Legend of Fuyao – The Drama - Part 2

 More comedy mixed with real drama is excellently projected by the most stubborn teenager ever portrayed in a drama: Yalan Zhu.  Delightful, delightful, delightful. Chasing the lanky one is embarrassing in the memories it elicits of our own similar shameful endeavours.  But when she wields her scorpion-firing catapult, it is beautiful to watch. [1] Her trouble-is-coming warrior stance is no joke.  You ignore her at your peril!  Princess ‘Little Tail’ Yalan Zhu, makes ‘fighting’ and ‘graceful’ fit into the same sentence. You see a dancer in her movements.  The girl has style when in battle. Other times? The heart wants what the heart wants is seldom expressed so clearly. Sadly, she must have a serious emotional problem to be chasing that useless long-legged one. You see an immature obsessed limpet in her pursuit of that General Beiye.

Sticking with Zhan Beiye, perhaps it’s his size and height, but watching his arrogance and macho posturing crumble as he tries to push open the doors to the secret garden behind which the Earth Absorbing Bell is hidden leave you slack jawed [2] How Fuyao does not laugh or mock him is the mystery. Arrogance turned into comedy, again.

On a more sinister note but similarly reflected through (unintended) comedy, the prime minister’s over-reaching ambition to manipulate water and take over the throne is chillingly hilarious. Albeit his plan totally fails, this man is a warning to us all. When your plan fails because it works, only resentment and bitterness are left as you hand that which you most covet ‘just because’ to someone whose right (sort of) it is to have it in the first place.[3]  The humiliation is real.  Only thing missing with this pissy politician’s attitude is a foot stamping tantrum. Expressing discontent is Prime Minister Qi Zhen’s trademark characteristic.

Yang Mi plays arrogant Meng Fuyao perfectly. But she doesn't pass muster as a teenager, especially when placed beside a real one. And she doesn't do cute or naughty well, either. Fuyao is seldom convincingly funny, coming across more often as petty, irritating, or insolent.  It does not deflect from the fact that Yang Mi, who plays Fuyao, is a great actress, especially playing sophisticated, up in your face grown-ups that do not tolerate being taken advantage of. Between the book and the drama, Ms Meng in print would kick the ass of Drama Ms Meng in a fight. But on screen, the drama queen puts the little troublemaker of the book in her place by using a greater level of intelligence and cunning to realise her ambitions. One has a greater killer instinct.  The other is more of an activist skilled in making her voice heard.

Of the other central characters, Zhong Yue is a friend first and a physician second. There is no regard paid to status as he pokes and pinches Wuji's various self-inflicted wounds; wounds suffered to help the ‘cause’.  He provides Fuyao with medical aid to his full capacity, but with a sour attitude. His open resentment makes you laugh. His friendship with Wuji is the only motivation to bother with her. It's known he only treats those he chooses to, so tolerating this stranger that causes repeated problems for his partner-on-a-mission is an inconvenience. The first suggestion to kill her having been rejected, his second suggestion is to feed her a mind-altering drug to cause madness. The Hippocratic Oath, then, is not part of this medic’s moral or professional code.

True Pairings

Life, much less dramas, can get it wrong. Little Tail (Princess Yalan Zhu) and Fuyao's little brother, Xiao Qi, are perfectly suited. But whilst he wants it to happen, sadly she does not, continuing instead to openly and unabashedly chase that stick of a man, Zhan Beiye.

As couples go, Fuyao’s spiciness dilutes Wuji’s arrogance. He has to apply his many years of discipline training whenever Ms Meng appears.  Whenever she risks her life to save him -- more than once -- our Crown Prince almost trembles with desire. If Ms Meng but knew the hold she already has on this proud man, she could get him to concede to almost anything she demands.  But maybe not, actually.  Wuji is, after all, a battle-hardened man of superior intelligence and extreme magical prowess.  A little thing like love would surely not overwhelm him?   Similarly, Little Tail’s spiciness dilutes Zhan Beiye’s arrogance.  Zhan Beiye might run from her, but it’s really part of the game.  He would defend her with his life, and he would look for her if she stopped chasing him.

On the other hand, Zhan Beiye reverts to a schoolboy with a crush in Fuyao's presence, and she knows it. So she steps back when they are alone in order to keep the relationship under control.  He is simply a friend to her, and she has to ensure he does not misunderstand their relationship or try to cross the proverbial line. She deserves credit for how well she uses ignorance of his romantic intentions to reject his advances. With that laid out, it’s clear that the drama sets out to leave the viewer unsure who will become mutually entangled with whom.  Does it work?  Not at all.  The chasers in dramaland romances almost invariably win. Wuji is upfront and full on in his chasing.  Zhan Beiye is already caught in someone else’s net, and his interest in Fuyao is too weak and already too late.

Now, the two 'kids' play it so, so well. It comes across as real and is great to watch. They are harmonious, even in body language.  Exuding youth, carelessness, immaturity, and fun, our double trouble team love hard and exhibit a level of intention that is limited only by ability.  Wanting to do their bit for the mission, judgement, already short in supply, evaporates entirely.  Xiao Qi has fallen for Yalan Zhu.   He will follow her into any furnace she lights.  But perhaps being best friends is the way to go here.  Siblings, they definitely are.  I will forever recall the expression ‘together, together, together [to our doom do we walk]’ with a smile.[4] Their second attempt to be heroic is no better:  no plan, no information, no knowledge.  To their doom would they have walked again. Brainless schemes that only those lacking age and life experience could come up with.

Question Mark?

The dating tango is at least relatable to.  That apart, if you're looking for any semblance of reality, it won’t be found in Legend of Fuyao. [5]  The drama is spectacular, filled as it is with breath-taking action scenes.  The humour is, similarly, rocking. But there are too many flaws to call it perfect, even with all the magic. For instance, unless Fuyao has a tracker on her, or the ‘guardians’ dedicated to protecting her have mobile phones, how do they keep finding her? How do they just appear whenever Fuyao is about to step into some trap or other? Yes, sure, the background of this drama is about how many and how much they are willing to sacrifice of themselves to help Fuyao reach her destiny.  But in order to do this, the way it’s played out, someone always needs to be in the shadows ready to intervene in the multitude of misfortune that our main character attracts.  That means she is always being watched. How awful!

Episode 21-30: Compassion

Always best in battle mode, Fuyao transforming from victim to warrior, such as to fight the demon fox controlled by the mad princess, Xuan Yuan Xiao, is absolutely riveting to watch. She just does warrior queen so perfectly. Even though her fight at the end of the Hunting and Killing Game was subdued because of her relationship with her opponent, Yan Jing Chen -- her childhood friend, first sweetheart, and eventual boyfriend who abandons their love to meet the social expectations of his father -- and though she had no intention of killing him, Fuyao’s take on martial arts is always serious.  She fights every battle with an intention to win. You subconsciously lean forward -- alert and similarly ready for combat.  Whether having the sexiest bathtub fight (or mini pool, in this case) with Wuji, or defending against that demon fox, they both need her full attention.  They get it and some!  But only Wuji is rewarded with a sizzling underwater kiss. [6]  The fox?  Animal or not, the battle is thrilling to behold. The outcome? Only one.

Then there’s the mad princess! Controller of the mystical white fox and princess in hiding.  Triggers chills blended with compassion and humour. I'd hate to be her enemy.  One can see, however, that she needs a friend, someone to talk to.  She needs to vent about the burdens that brought her to the place she is currently in, where she is trapped not only in her addled mind but also literally in her home. Fuyao achieves that. Some lies, some misdirection, but she helps stabilise the mind of that pitiful individual and enables her to get past the life-changing trauma that has haunted her for too many years. It takes compassion, but especially loyalty and simple kindness. The motherless orphan, Fuyao, recognises both the princess’s emotional maternal needs as well as her own need for a mother figure.  Bonding, then, was natural between them.

Acting Ability

Let’s get serious.  I accept all the possibilities in a drama but get serious with the acting within the context of the characters being portrayed.

Even if Fuyao’s will to chart her own destiny is strong and even if this is strengthened by having the heart and protection of the son of the sect leader, Yan Jing Chen, her attitude is too extreme to accept. There's conflict between whether her attitude is age-related or that she's just too full of herself, somewhat ignorant. Age can be ruled out, as upon Yan Jing Chen and the crazy older sister of their sect, Pei Yuan, becoming engaged, Fuyao suddenly matures.

When she barges into the heir apparent's home and disrespects the protocol, it suggests that she has a death wish or is just plain stupid. Fake or not, his royal highness didn't offend her, didn't steal from her, didn't abuse her mind or body, but even with a guest present, and none other than the prime minister, Fuyao is all indignant outrage. Not buying it.

The grown up Fuyao is much more palatable. She rightly stands tall and proud when martial arts skills are compared.  In combat, she is certainly among the best.  Her dad by adoption, Uncle Zhuo, should have explained to Fuyao that being able to fight does not remove the obligation to show good manners and to recognise when to concede or compromise.  I’m sure he tried.  I’m sure she consciously refused to learn that particular lesson.  Towards Wuji in public, the distinction between them would need to be maintained, not because it is right, but because it's just what it is. Good manners do not erode your dignity.

Being a strong woman works if you are also a smart one. Knowing what to say and how to act in every circumstance is a must. It's not a weakness to be polite or to show social respect. It's not a status thing.  Again, it's just plain old fashion good manners.

Getting to the Church on Time

The most wonderful wedding. Ever. Fuyao manages to blend the traditional with the independent and comes up with bold defiance wrapped in cultural respect. The disruption of the wedding procession prepares us for something big, something unorthodox, something madcap only the tag team, Fuyao and Wuji, can pull off.   Fuyao doesn’t know what Wuji has planned ahead, nor does she know what her role will be.  She knows her presence is urgently needed because Wuji’s note asks her to hurry.[7]  Along with Fuyao, we all know there will be chaos because the note also tells her there will be a need to protect herself. Her race to the church is an age-old tale, but played here with a new vigour, much humour, and a level of nerve that only Ms Meng could bring.   

When the ‘auspicious hour’ chimes, the mirrored battle stance of Fu-Wu can be considered to represent the symbol of their new marital status: united we stand, divided we fall. In the true shared heart and mind of the couple they are, few words are needed to understand what each must do. When these two form a tag team, the result is pure adrenalin, power, and satisfaction for the viewer. Don’t omit bedlam.  The newly avowed Mr and Mrs are so in sync that the outcome is guaranteed. Yet there is always a twist that keeps the viewer wondering 'what next'? No words are exchanged but you know from past battles that each is willing to die to protect the other. Fuyao does not know up to the point of the wedding the exact nature of the duplicity that Wuji is immersed in, nor even his true identity. She knows the face he presents is fake, and she has even been forced to participate in some of his mischief, yet at no time does she hesitate to follow him and his schemes. She offers this man her trust unreservedly and with her whole heart.  Equally, she never hesitates to put her life in his hands, easily forgiving him when she is drawn into a situation he has created without consultation and is almost guaranteed to be to her detriment.  She knows he will protect her. For Wuji, a man who, to this point, has been in charge of his own destiny as well as that of countless other people, he is willing to trust his life to this woman on whom he imprinted from the moment they met. Their trust is mutual, thus it is infused with a power that can't be broken by others. The wedding? Let's have fun at this bloody party.

The pomp and ceremony of the dressing ritual is beautifully countered by the deadly battle immediately the wedding vows are exchanged. Married life unveils truths that just dating never does.  And wasn’t that always the way. At the post-wedding ‘reception’, for Wuji, like for other liars, the truth will eventually out.  The real Wuji, it turns out, is not someone Fuyao can accept. It’s because of the repeated deceptions, and for her disappointed heart.  Yet when they part, as he promised, he leaves her with the first of the (mysterious) seals in her body unlocked.[8]  More importantly, he also swaps her five colours stones pendant for his mystic spirit leaf.  The latter is a powerful artifact which contains every truth about Wuji’s past, present, and future that Fuyao could ever think to ask about. They’ve had their first serious argument, but the bond between them remains unshaken. She will not look into his secrets, which are stored in the precious emblem now hanging gently around her neck; he trusts that she will find him to return it. It’s a promise of things to come, a glimpse into how deeply they are emotionally connected, and how much each will have to depend on the other to survive the trials ahead.

Leonora

asiandramaobserver@gmail.com

[1] Episode 12

[2] Episode 14

[3] Episode 14

[4] Episode 16

[5] Legend of Fuyao. Yang Wenjun, Linmon Pictures, 2018. Rakuten Viki, https://www.viki.com/Legend of Fuyao/35844c

[6] Episode 21

[7] Episode 28 & 29

[8] Episode 30