Espada Snow Stride (2021)

Good pacing and overall acting - but lack mini climaxes here and there

Completed - 1/18/2022

"Sword Snow Stride" is one of my highly anticipated dramas as we seem to lack a true wuxia drama in 2021. However, after watching it, I realized it's not a wuxia drama in a traditional sense. There is a lot of special effects instead of martial arts fighting. The story is a combination of politics and pugilistic world.

It's undeniable that Zhang Ruo Yun, our male lead, has some great acting chops. I've seen him in the highly rated "Joy of Life" and also his earlier work in "Novaland: Castle in the Sky". He's an amazing actor. He reminds me of the Korean actor, Yoon Ah In. Both give off similar vibes, not handsome in the traditional sense, but with such charisma. In this drama, he is surrounded by some great veteran actors, especially, Hu Jun (ML's dad), Qiu Zin Zhi (God of Swords), Tian Xiao Jie (Grandpa Wei) and Wang Jian Guo (Old Wang). Comparatively, our young female lead, Teresa Li, pales in comparison. She's not horrible, but when you are playing against someone like Zhang Ruo Yun, she's not quite at the same level. Hopefully, we get to see more of her in Season 2 and her acting improves.

For a 38-episode C-drama, the pacing is good. There are enough events and little missions throughout the drama to keep me entertained and focused. But when looking back, everything feels very smooth-sailing. I don't think I was ever on the edge of my seat, worried something awful might happen to our leads, or that I really, really want to find out what happened next. I feel like it's missing some thrilling events. However, maybe it's also a strength that even without these minor climaxes, I am still engaged throughout.

We have many strong female and male characters in this drama. No one is naïve or makes dumb decisions. There isn't anyone annoying that I want to yell at. We have women who can fight and/or use their brains. How awesome is that! We have a family of intelligent people who are ruthless and cunning, yet selfless enough to sacrifice for the common good. They have some pretty fun and heartwarming family scenes and dynamics.

However, when "Snow Sword Stride" was promoted as a wuxia drama, it comes with certain expectations. I was hoping for amazing fight choreography and strong fight scenes, esp. from our male lead. What we have is a "modern" version of a wuxia drama with slow-motion fight sequences and a lot of special effects. I do enjoy the special effects - leaves, water, raindrops, flying swords, etc. But I was also hoping for actual fight scenes and not posing and slow-motion sequences.

Other Observations:
1. It seems like our male lead doesn't fight much and have others do the dirty work for him.
2. Our female lead seems quite useless in the first half of the drama, a little better in the second half. I hope she has a more significant role in Season 2 both in politics and in romance.
3. Why is the white fox at the fight in the last episode? What's that got to do with her? Just to help out a friend? Or want to give her some screen time before the drama ends?

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Dominator domineering

The story was very intriguing, engaging and keeps people going from start to finish. First, let me start with the character. It was very well written for both protagonist and antagonist. Xu Fengnian is not your usual aristocrat's son. His character is very convincing and realistic. Usually, the story always beautifies ml, meaning that ml usually considered as a good guy, never does anything wrong, never lies and somehow always gets fooled. But Xu Fengnian is different. He carries the charm domineering aura of Grand Commander while still had that humor of foolishness here and there.

Oh this drama had some serious humor where it was super funny in the place you least expect. Sometimes even makes you confused, do you want to laugh or do you not.

I like that he was in full control of his emotion - we can see the determination, intelligent and affection. Zhang Rou Yun is truly a great actor. I don't even know how much screenshots I take because every scenes that he's in just mesmerized me. Jiang Ni actually surprised me a little. Her character justifies her personality. A little bit necessary proudness in the name of a princess make me understand why (the actually scary) Fengnian keep it cool about all the 'assassinations'. Don't forget that Xu Fengnian take after Xu Xiao's charm and aura, so he is actually scary not in the way that he hurts you, but in the way that he studies you. Enemy who study their enemy is lot more dangerous than you think. I won't say about Jiang Ni's acting, I found a bit lacking from Fengnian but the eyes of affection and determination was still there so it doesn't disturb their chemistry and acting in general. Xu Xiao, Old Huang, Shu Xiu, Ning Emei, Qing Niao and that Lin guy, I can say that they give their all.

Secondly, I was relieved that it doesn't mix romance in there just because they want it to be interesting. The story is not of romance genre, but I can definitely see the affection and longing, which was 100 times better that romance. I'm a sucker for slow burn so this is my tea, and if you're not, I suggest don't watch for romance. I'll always ends up complaining if the strategy and revenge kinda drama always mix up romance as if the main lead doesn't have the strong resolution at all. They suddenly become weaker while I myself believe love is about become stronger (and smarter). Fortunately SSS doesn't have that bullshit. Their story was interesting thorough and thorough, it makes everyone a third wheeler.

For the plot, the story buildup was perfect. The rising action was a bit confusing since you can't see the 'chess board'. But I promise it was super engaging. They played well. Really hope season 2 can came out soon, tho I don't want they rush things and make a ruin out of it. SSS, signing out.

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An entertaining adventure

Jumping right into it - if you enjoyed Joy of Life or Niravana in Fire, give this a shot. It has elements such as humor, fight choreography, interesting adventure that reminded me of JoL and political intrigue, story of betrayal, leisurely yet intense pacing that reminded me of NiF.

I can't say much more without giving away bits of the plot. I have heard some criticisms such as female lead not being suited to play the role and color grading of the show appearing too green. However these points didn't bother me at all. I was definitely invested in most of the characters from the get go. Bear in mind you will have to be patient with the first few episodes, it takes time to reel you in however once you get hooked you are in for a treat.

"The journey is long, but you'll get there.
Persevere on the way, the future is full of hope.
Wish all the travelers know their way back home.
Wish all the lost ones find their path to the future.
Wish to meet again even though we bid farewell.
Every ending is a rebirth.
See you someday in the future."

Hence we can expect a second season. I hope it takes less time than its taking for JoL 2 :)

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Go watch it, highly recommended !

If you like a story with intrigue political and also wuxia genre, this is the right one you looking for. First i don't put so much expectation but i fell in love in very first episode. This is so rare to find the relationship between master & his 'subordinate' as one of highlight of the story. Most of drama would tell about friendship with same age but this friendship between Xu Fengnian and Lao Huang even successfully make me burst into tears. (P.S another drama which have this relationship is Joy of Life).
Second, the romance between ML and FL is so adorable without showing romantic scene whole time.
Third, the best thing...relationship between Son and Father. I think this is the biggest surprise hahaha.
Overall i love the plot, Xu Fengnian is hiding his cleverness and also his real character as a wise man but sometime i just think that Xu Fengnian really has a great luck by having powerful guards by his side. Xu Fengnian, how lucky you are!
Casting, perfect! Zhang Ruo Yun is right person to portray future king with his cunning character and but generous to other people. Another one who impress me is Finn Han, the little boy portray an leader of Sect Zhao Xuan Su. Damn how can a little boy can imitate an old man expression and have a good body language. He's going to be a bright star certainly.
Totally casting i found it kinda funny that it almost looks like Joy of Life in lite version, i mean if you have watched Joy of Life you will find some familiar faces in here too.
Another Great thing, LOCATION and CGI. sorry i have to capslock this. I really mean it. Since it's about someone's journey, there are many location that awe me especially the weeds field. CGI, is very well done! I'm pretty much sure it costs high budget to produce such a high quality of FX.

One word. Go watch it! Highly recommended.

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an engaging story of Xu Fengnian's journey to become the lord of Beiliang

This drama was amazing! If you liked Joy of Life then I would highly recommend this drama or vice versa. The ML is the same person who played the ML in Joy of Life and the story is also similar with it's somewhat comedy/political vibe. The pacing in this drama is great, it never really lags or goes too quick.

The story was very engaging with some parts of it being funny and some parts really hits you with emotions that Xu Fengnian is feeling. The story makes the watcher sympathize with Xu Feng Nian's and it will probably make you cry at some point.

The fights and overall martial arts sequences were very well executed (although some of the cgi wasn't the best) and the different types of martial arts in the show are show cased very well. The Romance was very subtle but also so sweet. Each character was fleshed out very well, with some remaining mysterious for perhaps a big reveal in the next season??

The schemes and logical side of the drama is well written as well. The twist and turns of the plot are not that predictable and the villain or antagonist is well written. The antagonist's goal of going against Xu Fengnian is reasonable and you may even sympathize with him in the end.

The casting is great and I honestly think Zhang Ruo yun should be in more dramas like this. A lot of these actors also prevously worked with him in Joy of Life.

The OST is very on par with the drama (and maybe even some other dramas with famous osts). Although the ost only has 3 songs, the three songs all fit well to the theme of the drama. One of the songs was even sang by Zhang Ruo Yun!

I hope they start making the second season soon as I can not wait!

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XFN's Journey

I was actually very surprised that I liked this series. Many people I usually chat with, dropped it without looking. But it had many good qualities. XFN is officially more cunning then his father. That finale was something else; truly hope seasons 2 and 3 don't take 10 years to make.

Pros: Most of the characters were there for as long as they needed to be and greatly evolved. The main lead was the most obvious. His father was the 706 steps ahead thinking man planning everything in his son's path to both help him and test him. But as the series wore on he too became very much like his father; from a stubborn teenager who refused to learn martial arts until his closest friend and master martial artist died, did he realize he can still live his own way but be great at something.

It was great to see 3 actors from DC in this thing; old man booger aka Sword God, Ning Emei, and the death guard Qing. I totally saw the latter two as becoming a couple. The fantastical aspects were great but not overdone. Every loose end was one way or another always tied and not left along for too long. The ending episode was cool except for ZK talking for far too long after Xu big sister stabbed him. I particularly liked when XFN used the martial arts he learned to fight the bad guys.

The story in itself progressed well, with XFN growing, maturing, learning and ultimately embracing his destiny in his own way. The comical aspects were also a nice touch and progressing the story along. You never knew who was working for dad or by the end of it XFN himself and that was always comical when the audience learned along with other parts.

Cons: Many inconsistencies and really unneeded characters like the lady with the cat. I'll take the cat over the chick. Just the sheer number of people who wanted to kill XFN for reasons most of the time not well explained or if explained, didn't make sense. It reminded me a lot of Luoyang and the plethora of unneeded assassins. Ms. Hehe's sudden appearances, her lackluster explanation for why she was there and then final appearance, equally bizarre other explanation and disappearance. Her entire presence was like a whiplash each time.

I didn't see any point in the FL until she literally left. She didn't have (imo) any chemistry with the ML aside from wanting to kill him for reasons unknown. I know that readers of the book liked her and understood her purpose and perhaps she'll be given better development in the upcoming seasons but in this one, she just whined and repeated the same thing over and over; kill XFN, death and buying herself a coffin.

Each episode in someways felt like its own plot story or rather multiple episodes until yet another failed attempt at assassination happened and perps were revealed. Then we move on to the next plot and next bunch of assassins. It was very push and pull often and I wished other aspects of the series were brought. It needed smoother writing and overall transitions.

Would I recommend it? Sure. It's got great growth moments, funny moments, if you like fantastical stories and trying to figure out who's good and who's really not. It like everything else, has lackluster moments and errors, but overall it was fun to watch.

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Entitled Rich Heir has to be saved by others

Entitled rich heir refuses to learn anything his father and elders tell him to. He thinks he's smart but has to be saved by his servants and random people all the time. Other characters wait around to help him. New characters are introduced to help him while he slowly tries to learn things he should have learned growing up. Random people walk in, help him then are gone.

Zhang Rou Yun's acting is good, but everyone else it's hard to tell because it was written to be all about Xu Feng Nian so no one else gets to shine. The other characters seem interesting but you never get to know them because the writers only care about XFN. The Plot is XFN-centric, everything is about him.

The production, locations, costumes, and set design are quality, the VFX and camera work are decent, and the fight scenes are good but short.

I liked the dynamics with his family. The father-son relationship is offbeat, each of his sister-brother relationships is nuanced, and the brother-brother relationship is endearing.

I feel bad for the FL, Jiang Ni. I feel worse for the actress, Teresa Li. She is given so little to do that it can not be considered a "lead" role.

Ultimately this was not terrible but not great. Everything is handed to the ML. And he never fails because he always gets saved by others so there are no stakes. Save your time and just wait for Joy of Life 2.

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Marvelous storyline

I think this is my fav dramas after nirvana in fire and joy of life. I love this kind of strategist genre. Ngl, xu feng nian is the best strategist of the game. I do not know how he communicates with his siblings. And the huikun thing. Is it in purpose that Hehe kunya kill the beast? Poor thing. Maybe there is a help for XFN in the future. Goosebumps started when his siblings join the revenge. Waaaa. I love it! Also is hongxixiang is the heaven's heart? Kind of confusing there. I cried when XFN went to wudi city to bring back the laohuang's sword. Btw, the details in the movie are so satisfying and the chemistry of the roles are quite impressive. I recommend this drama to everyone!! Lots of love from me <3

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It is the start of a beautiful journey.

Chinese wuxia dramas usually start with a bang but midway through the drama the story usually ends up getting draggy and boring.
There were only 3 Chinese wuxia dramas that I have actually enjoyed in the past - 'Joy of Life', 'Nirvana in Fire' and 'Ancient Detective'. Looking at the type of wuxia dramas I have enjoyed one can easily tell that I like those political struggle drama with a great plot. Finally I can add another drama to that list - Sword Snow Stride. It is another hidden gem.

So as my headline says it is the start of a beautiful journey. Our ML goes on to a journey to lay down his foundation as well as the dramas. The tension and mind games in this drama are just otherworldly. This drama was a perfect example of action ,emotion and comedy. I was laughing at one moment, crying at other( especially because of the bond between Xu Feng Nian and Old Huang) and admiring the action scenes at other.

I think I have become a fan of Zhang Ruo Yun now. I loved him in Joy of Life. And he didn't disappoint me in this drama too. I think his character here was kind of similar to what he played in Joy of Life.

This season have laid out a perfect foundation for the upcoming seasons. Hopefully we won't be kept waiting for a long time. As I am still waiting for the second season of Joy of Life. At last I don't have much to say just watch this masterpiece. I bet you won't be wasting your precious time.

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Perfect drama

Alasan pertama nonton ini sudah pasti karena zhang ruo yun di Joy of life, namun setelah nonton diawal episode, saya sudah tahu bahwa drama ini memiliki keunikan tersendiri. Saya menaruh nilai sempurna dengan tulus. ini menjadi drama ke 5 saya yang saya anggap drama terbaik sejak nirvana in fire (1). ever night (1), someday or one day , dan Joy of life.

Cerita
Penggabungan elemen dunia silat dengan kerajaaan. hampir mirip dengan JOL, namun di SSS lebih kuat elemen dunia silat. Pertarungan lebih terasa lama dan banyak terjadi. Cerita berjalan sangat-sangat lambat. Hal paling memukau dari cerita ini adalah dimana kita tidak akan bisa berpikir atau menebak jalan cerita yang dipilih. benar-benar out of the box. apalagi diakhir episode, itu sangat memukau.

Acting
karakter yang kuat untuk main lead membawa pengaruh paling tinggi. kemudian para wanita-wanita cantik juga membawa daya tarik yang sangat kuat. Apalagi ketika masih diawal, dimana banyak scene yang menunjukkan wanita-wanita tersebut. dan juga akting jiang ni yang masih cute sering marah ke xu feng nian.

Music
Sepertinya memang tidak ada, karena disini unsur romance sedikit sehingga yang banyak muncul adalah backsound. Paling menarik adalah backsound ketika bagian dari zhao kai kaget XD

Rewatch
10. karena season 2 mungkin akan lama, jadi untuk saat ini sudah saya rencanakan kemungkinan kita semua akan menonton kembali ketika season 2 datang XD

Terakhir, tonton ini di WEtv.

For those who avoid excessive romance dramas, and for those who like imperial strategy and martial arts themes, this is the right choice. recommended

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Extremely disappointing fighting scenes

+ Good plot (clever schemes, a touch of mystery), a lot of outdoor scenes, good acting and NO obvious goosebumps-raising "pose"-acting or tropes that are so pervasive and cringey (e.g. hero catches a falling heroine, looks at each other in the eye, time pauses.....)

- Unrealistic martial journey from zilch (no foundation) to expert in a matter of weeks (months?) with few hints of practice (other than the very initiation to basic blade skills)

- Very, very, very crappy action pulls down the rating by at least 1 - 1.5 stars. I truly cringe every time it builds up to a fighting scene because more likely than not, it frizzles out or skipped completely!!! A lot of foreplay ..... and that's it! Totally unsatisfying.

Where there's fighting, there's so much slow-motion of v ordinary moves (eg just barely avoiding a blade) that it irritates. Maybe the actors and actresses are so rotten with action choreography that the only way to get away with it is to fill the scenes with close-up slow motion?

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