New Border Town Prodigal 新边城浪子 carries a certain charm that is unique to wuxia. Swords and sabers clash as though movements in a beautifully choreographed yet lethal dance and beneath the captivating visuals lies a story based on Gu Long’s 古龍 renowned Flying Dagger series.
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The man wears Mu Rong’s clothes but a young woman recognizes him instantly, revealing that he is Ye Kai (Yu Qing Bin), a mischievous hero that she has admired for some time.
Ye Kai blows her cover in turn, stating that she is no ordinary girl because she is Ding Ling Lin (Gong Mi), the 7th miss of the prominent Ding family. Ling Lin is more than impressed with his deduction but she is left in a bind, literally, after Ye Kai refuses to take her along.
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The swordsman from the desert also enters the inn and his piercing demeanor catches the eye of lead harem Cui Nong (Chai Bi Yun), stirring ire and jealousy amongst the other customers.
To prevent conflict, Ye Kai invites Fu Hong Xue to stay with him and they spend an awkward evening together wherein Ye Kai attempts to make conversation and Hong Xue broods. A very literal hand to hand combat ensues between the two as Ye Kai tries and fails to sneak a peek at Hong Xue’s saber.
Desperate to find the person, Cui Nong sends assassins to eliminate Ye Kai. Even though her group is defeated, the skirmish is enough for Cui Nong to conclude that Ye Kai is no immediate threat since his martial arts does not hail from the Evil Sect.
New Border Town Prodigal is undoubtedly a highlight in a year chock full of uneventful dramas and I am loving every single minute. It brings a fresh take on a classic that I didn’t even realize I had already seen in a previous adaptation that must not have been that good starring Wallace Chung and Baron Chen.
Fu Hong Xue and Ma Fang Ling (Viann Zhan Xinyu) are two very flawed personas but their twisted and vengeful ways are oddly appealing, not to mention their drop dread gorgeousness, minus the towering hair that is.
Episodes 5-8 just came out so I recommend checking it out if not for the breathtaking sceneries then at least for the traditional wirework that is dearly missed in wuxia series.
Last but not the least, is this guy Huang Xiao Ming‘s doppelgänger or what?
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Anonymous
I absolutely LOVE this drama. Fu Hong Xue is soooo handsome and "cool". I miss this kind of none fantasy wuxia.
Anne J
Yes same here but it kind of lost steam midway so I stopped keeping up. If you make it to the end lemme know if it's worth finishing:)