Synopsis
The 36-episode series is considered quite dated, broadcasted nearly a decade ago. Having watched the series a while back, I have some recollection of the series but perhaps not so deep anymore. The original novel is written by Ren Hai Yan (author pen-name Tong Hua), who has authored similar novels such as Scarlet Heart and with her signature style which uses actual historical backdrop. Fictional characters are usually added to provide some colours and excitement, with tweaks of historical facts here and there.
The names used for the series are aplenty, but usually Da Mo Yao 大漠谣 is the commonly used. Another name used is Feng Zhong Qi Yuan 风中奇缘.
The historical backdrop of the series is based during the rule of Liu Che, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty. Many actual historical persona are included in the expanded fictional story.
The series follow the adventure of Xin Yue (portrayed by Liu Shi Shi while in the novel known as Jin Yu), a little girl growing in the wild with a pack of wolves. When she is about 9, she saves a man who captures her to re-habilitate Xin Yue to live in the society of the Xiong Nu, ultimately becoming her adopted father. Xin Yue’s adopted father teaches her the way of Han where he is originally from. As she learns to live with in the society, she befriends the children of Xiong Nu. As they grow older, the fight to lead the tribes resulted in the death of Xin Yue’s father and she escaped to the desert to live with a pack of wolves.
As she grows older and having familiarises with the desert, she saves two extremely different persons whose lives intertwined with hers in later period. Firstly, she saves Jiu Ye (aka Mo Xun, Meng Jiu, Meng Xi Mo and portrayed by Hu Ge) who is a crippled & weak businessman controlling many enterprises in the capital city of Chang An with great knowledge in medicine. Later, she also saves a group of soldiers disguised as travelling merchants which is led by General Wu Wei Ji (aka Xiao Huo and portrayed by Eddie Peng), who is the beloved nephew of the Empress and the Great General Wu. In the original novel, the character of Wu Wei Ji is based on the life of General Huo Qu Bing.
Curious about the lifestyle in the capital city, Xin Yue enters the city. She meets Jiu Ye and starts assisting him in an entertainment outlet, ultimately taking over the business. In the process, she meets Qin Xiang an ambitious young & pretty girl who is determined to enter the palace as a concubine. While assisting Qin Xiang towards her ambition to be the concubine, she is exposed to various characters and the shady political back-stabbing of the many families at the centre of the royalty.
As Xin Yue manoeuvres through the intricate business deals linking with the politics of the court, she gets closer to Jiu Ye and falls in love with him. Jiu Ye maintains a confusing cold and warm relationship with Xin Yue, resulting in bewilderment with her own feelings. At the same time, she also gets to know Wu Wei Ji better, who has a completely different personality from the always-distant Jiu Ye. An active, arrogant but sincere military man, he is totally smitten with Xin Yue. Chasing after her all the time to find opportunities to spend time with her, he gets closer to his target.
When Xin Yue confesses her love to Jiu Ye and he rejects her thoroughly (very reluctantly on his part), she is heart-broken and runs off to the desert again. Wu Wei Ji gives chase and over time, wins her heart over with his sincerity. As the new couple returns to the capital, they face off with Qin Xiang (portrayed by a very young Fala Chen) who has become the favoured concubine of the emperor who is hell-bent to gain support for her faction.
As they manage all the brick-bat thrown to them, Wu Wei Ji is poisoned. Jiu Ye although regretting his very self-brought misery of missing out on the love of Xin Yue, generously uses all the efforts to find the cure to the poison in Xin Yue’s new love, even at the expense of using himself as a guinea pig to test the cure. Wu Wei Ji survives and uses the excuse to fake his death and begins a new life away from the bickering of the capital city with Xin Yue. Jiu Ye resigns himself to a life of a crippled, living his life to assist others in the desert but away from Xin Yue and Wu Wei Ji.
Muses & Thoughts
Recently, I have read the English-translated novel (link to website as below), of which the series have not deviated significantly. Perhaps with some changes in names and small characters. Having watched the series and read the novel (albeit translated), I have the same conclusion – the storyline is great but I really hated one significant part of the story.
Introduction to the Sweepingly Romantic Da Mo Yao by Tong Hua
I was enamoured with Jiu Ye’s character, and while watching the series and reading the novel, it is extremely frustrating to me to see how he misses out on Xin Yue/ Jin Yu’s love and his regrets for the rest of his life. It doesn’t help how generous he is towards Xin Yue and Wu Wei Ji, always thinking for their benefits. As I had watched the series to follow Hu Ge (post his Nirvana in Fire drama), I am totally in love with his portrayal. He is just great in the character, and actually gives up Wu Wei Ji’s role to try this role as something that he has never done before. And while reading the novel, he has really portrayed this character to the dot, exactly how I would have imagined it.
Unfortunately, Jiu Ye’s character is extremely flawed. He is an insecure male lead, total opposite of Wu Wei Ji/ Huo Qu Bing. He is obviously in love with Xin Yue/ Jin Yu but his indecisiveness and his decision-making does not take into account of Xin Yue/ Jin Yu’s feelings and needs. It is always guessing games in their relationship, ambiguous and distant with longings in subtle manner. It is a difficult journey, mentally tiring and lacking direction. In a way, his lack of respect for Xin Yue/ Jin Yu’s real needs spells the doom of their relationship. His excuse in rejecting Xin Yue is so laughable. I am totally not amused especially his own misery is self-brought. When he finds her written “diaries” during their courtship, leading towards his determination to win her back, I actually scowled in annoyance.
Hence, I can understand Xin Yue/ Jin Yu’s total disappointment that leads her towards a refreshingly direct approach to love with Wu Wei Ji. Happiness & laughter, direct emotions without any need to hide the emotions. I had some issue with Eddie Peng’s portrayal of Wu Wei Ji, although the Huo Qu Bing in the novel feels more real and easy-going.
My own take and moral of the story – Feelings are fleeting and missing out on an opportunity may be the last one that you will ever get. Think things over, be decisive with no regret. Sometimes a try is just something you need to do to decide whether it will work or otherwise.
The concubine Qin Xiang’s role in the whole story is a little weird, and so unnecessary. The story is meant to use her to pull in Xin Yue’s role in the fight of the court but the story-telling and link doesn’t make much sense to me. In the past, Fala Chen is not such a great actress and she is not able to bring out the character’s personalities and despair. The novel spells out a more determined character, who is eager to join the royal harem to take revenge and protect Luo Lan’s tribe where she originates from. My issue with the storyline is I am quite confused with her objectives. She enters the harem with determination, but then goes into resentment mode towards her own life. Difficult for me to empathise, as it is originally her choice.
Historical Backdrop
I read with interest on Liu Che’s historical story as the period is full of difficult warfare. His own earlier life and Wei Zi Fu’s was also a love story, which ends up so tragically in real life. Virtuous Queen of Han’s drama series is quite a good reflection of the historical story, and that is a separate series that I have enjoyed.
Huo Qu Bing’s life is short-lived as he died at the young age of 23. Whereby the novel kind of give such a great alternative life to him – he gives up the political warfare of the Han Dynasty to live a free life with the love of his life.
Conclusion (7/10)
It is indeed a great story, well developed in the series which sticks to the original novel closely. Indeed, my only major issue is my frustration with the ending given to my favourite character Jiu Ye. I would have loved an alternate ending for him, perhaps an extension of his life in the desert and a second chance for him to love and to be loved. Xin Yue/ Jin Yu’s character is just not suitable for him. He needs to move on. 😀
Cheng's Musings 