Sword And Fairy Review

Sword And Fairy (祈今朝) (also known as Chinese Paladin Season 6) is another Xu Kai drama in the fantasy genre. I gave this a go rather than The Last Immortal which is still lingering on my To Watch list. I really don’t have a strong preference of one over the other although I’m more used to watching Xu Kai than Wang An Yu in costume dramas. When time permits, I will tackle The Last Immortal at some point but for now, let’s get down to the Sword And Fairy review first. I have to say this is a little boring overall for me and not as immersive as I had expected.

My rating: 7.5/10
Episodes: 36
Type: Fantasy, Romance
Aired: January 2024
Images Credit: WeTV Official Facebook

The Cast Of Sword And Fairy

• Xu Kai as Yue Jin Zhao / Bian Luo Huan
• Esther Yu Shu Xin as Yue Qi
• Fu Xin Bo as Xian Qing
• Wan Peng as Luo Zhao Yan
• Bai Bing Ke as Ming Xiu
• Zhou Zhan as Ju Shi Fang
• Xue Ba Yi as Luo Mai Ming
• Wang Zi Rui as Gu Han Jiang
• Jia Nai as Shuo Xuan
• Han Dong as Ying Xu Wei
• Chen Zi Han as Ge Qing Fei
• Coco Chen as Qi Li Xiao Yuan
• Liu Min as Zhu Yu
• Cheng Cheng as Lin Yuan
• Wang Mao Lei as Gao Xiao

Main Characters

Yue Jin Zhao

Jin Zhao is someone who has lost his memory and searching for his origin together with Yue Qi. He is a very observant and perceptive young man. Jin Zhao is smart and street-wise with a cautious attitude towards strangers but playful with Yue Qi. He can also see a glimpse of the unknown through one of his eyes as well as link up his mind with Yue Qi’s during critical moments.

Yue Qi

Yue Qi is a very innocent young woman who is looking for clues to her background. Just like Jin Zhao, she cannot recall her past and has a natural bond with him. Yue Qi may be innocent but she isn’t dumb. She possesses some cultivation skills and can connect with Jin Zhao through telepathy.

Supporting Characters

Bian Luo Huan

Bian Luo Huan is a physician but has a mysterious background. He wears a mask and has a serious demeanor. Bian Luo Huan is also the person in charge of Qiyuan Sect.

Xian Qing

Xian Qing is a wolf demon. He is astute and has strong cultivation powers. Xian Qing is someone who likes freedom and has a kind heart. He has a close association with Gu Han Jiang and Ming Xiu.

Luo Zhao Yan

Zhao Yan is ostensibly the head of the Luo Mansion which is known as an upright clan. She is a woman but disguised herself as a man to take on the position due to some family secrets. Zhao Yan has good martial arts skills but suffers from a curse which her family must bear. She is a principled person.

Ming Xiu

Ming Xiu is a disciple of Mount Yuqing which is a small and low profile sect. Her master is Gu Han Jiang whom she has feelings for. She also regards Xian Qing as her disciple uncle.

Ju Shi Fang

Shi Fang is the head of Jiqiao Hall of Zhengwu Alliance which is led by Zuo Guan Ren. He is a gadgets expert but is seen as weak by other members of the alliance. Shi Fang is an innocent young man and a little timid. But he is a loyal and trustworthy friend.

Luo Mai Ming

Mai Ming is Zhao Yan’s twin brother and the guardian of Rehai. He disguises himself as a woman in public as he has swapped roles with his sister due to their family secrets. He is a manipulative and shrewd man who has his own agenda to free himself from a blood bond with Rehai that he has to bear for the family.

Gu Han Jiang

Gu Han Jiang is the leader of Mount Yuqing sect and Ming Xiu is his disciple. He is also the guardian of one of the entrances to 9 Springs and takes his responsibilities as a guardian seriously. Gu Han Jiang is a good friend of Xian Qing.

Shuo Xuan

Shuo Xuan is a princess from the Yu Clan. She has a mysterious mission and seems to have an association with Qiyuan Sect and Bian Luo Huan. Shuo Xuan can be a bit arrogant and domineering.

Ying Xu Wei

Ying Xu Wei is the leader of Hengdao Sect. The Yujie Hub, which is the guardians of the 6 realms, lies in the sect’s territory. Ying Xu Wei is a serious man with a lot on his mind. However, he is not in the best of health and has specific missions to fulfill.

Ge Qing Fei & Qi Li Xiao Yuan

Ge Qing Fei and Xiao Yuan is the second and fourth leader of Hengdao Sect respectively. They take commands from Ying Xu Wei but all the leaders share a sibling-like relationship among themselves.

Zhu Yu

Zhu Yu is the Queen of Yu Clan which are sea demons based in the Sea of Clear Skies.

Lin Yuan

Lin Yuan is the person who supposedly found the unconscious Jin Zhao and Yue Qi and brought them back to the village. He appears as a kind villager but is actually a general of the Yu Clan.

Gao Xiao

Gao Xiao is a director of the Qiyuan Sect. He takes orders from Bian Luo Huan. Meng and is assisted by his sidekick, Meng Cheng.

Synopsis

According to legend, Lord Ming is the ancient behemoth Kun who has the power to destroy the world. The Qiyuan Sect reveres Lord Ming which puts it at odds with other upright clans including Luo Mansion and Zhengwu Alliance. With the Qiyuan Sect creating havoc and Lord Ming at the verge of losing control, Jin Zhao and Yue Qi get entangled in the mess. Both of them have woken up next to each other 3 years ago but have completely lost their memory. They have also grown very close to each other. As they try to find out about their origins, the clues point them to Luo Mansion.

So, Jin Zhao and Yue Qi strike up a friendship with Zhao Yan who is the head of Luo Mansion which has their own family secret. As they investigate further into the Qiyuan Sect, more mysteries emerge that are connected to Jin Zhao’s and Yue Qi’s background. This stirs up the interest of Zhao Yan’s twin who has his own agenda which in turn makes Jin Zhao and Yue Qi suspect that the secret Luo Mansion is hiding may have information about their origin.

The mystery deepens when they meet the masked Bian Luo Huan who is the person behind Qiyuan Sect but seems to be protective of Yue Qi. As more answers to Jin Zhao’s and Yue Qi’s origin are revealed, their relationship is then put to the test.

Sword And Fairy Ending & Recap (Spoilers Alert!)

Sword And Fairy has an implied happy ending for the main couple. After Jin Zhao died of internal injuries following the battle with Zhu Yu, Yue Qi becomes devastated. She feels that her memories of Jin Zhao are meaningless without him around. So, she goes to the Dragon Pool and exchanges her life for his but without all the memories of their past.

Ying Xu Wei also has the same thought of exchanging his life to make amends to Jin Zhao and Yue Qi. As the guardian of Mist Soul, he feels guilty for not being able to stop the calamity brought by Zhu Yu. He couldn’t do anything to compensate the people for their sufferings but he could make up to Jin Zhao and Yue Qi by sacrificing his life for them.

After Zhu Yu’s defeat, Zhao Yan and Xian Qing settle down together to cultivate. The blind Ming Xiu Returns to Mount Yuqing and visits her master’s tomb. She now understands why Gu Han Jiang is so committed to his responsibility to keep the world safe as she had done the same.

6 years later, Jin Zhao appears in a town and bumps into a boy who looks like Shi Fang and Ming Xiu who is now blind. Ming Xiu could sense a familiarity but Jin Zhao has no recollection of the past as a different person. Ming Xiu is there to meet up with Zhao Yan and Xian Qing for a reunion. This is the same place that the group of friends had got together in the past.

While walking around, Jin Zhao then bumps into Yue Qi. They do not know each other but experience a strange familiarity. The drama ends with the pair taking a second look at each other from a short distance away.

Yue Qi’s Background

Yue Qi is actually a mythical beast from the Yu Clan. Viewers will get a clue about her identity in Episode 10 and 13. She was entrusted to Hengdao Sect more than 10 years ago and grew close to Bian Luo Huan who became her master. One day, she disappeared and then reappeared with Jin Zhao. Since Yue Qi has a deeper bond with Jin Zhao, Ying Xu Wei decided to follow the natural course for the pair to remain in the mortal world together.

Yue Qi learns about her own identity in Episode 14 after they cornered Lin Yuan who is forced to reveal her background. Lin Yuan is a general from the Yu Clan who was sent to keep an eye on Yue Qi. Yue Qi is the child of the Queen of Yu Clan, Zhu Yu. Lin Yuan lies that Yue Qi is left in the mortal realm as punishment after she unintentionally cast the forbidden Husheng spell on a mortal who is Jin Zhao. The lie is to prevent Yue Qi from finding out the truth about the past. She is then brought back to the clan to reunite with her mother.

Yue Qi regains her memories in Episode 22 after she enters the Dragon Pool and the Ruins of Memory with Jin Zhao. She recalls her relationship with Bian Luo Huan then. Yue Qi also gets confirmation that her mother is Lord Ming and she is a hostage of the Hengdao Sect when she confronts her in Episode 23.

Bian Luo Huan & Jin Zhao’s Origin

Bian Luo Huan is Yue Qi’s master in Hengdao Sect. He is also the third leader of the sect. This is revealed in Episode 6 after Yue Qi was struck by a poisoned arrow when she shielded Bian Luo Huan. He then appears in her dream while she is unconscious. He is in the mortal realm to monitor Yue Qi and Jin Zhao and protect them. Bian Luo Huan has deep feelings for Yue Qi after having spent 10 years with her as her master.

Jin Zhao finds out that Bian Luo Huan looks exactly like him in Episode 12 after he broke the latter’s mask during a duel. The Hengdao Sect reveals his origin to him in Episode 28. 3 years ago, the future Bian Luo Huan already knew what will happen 3 years later. He knew he will suffer a serious injury and unable to link his mind with Yue Qi to defeat Zhu Yu when the time comes. So, he entered the Dragon Pool and exchanged himself for Jin Zhao to emerge. Jin Zhao replaced the future Bian Luo Huan in the current timeline with no memories of the past and become a different person.

Hence, Bian Luo Huan in the current time line has to do what the future him did 3 years ago so that the events that already happened will follow a predestined path. Otherwise, the world would be in chaos if the course of events is forcibly changed. So, Bian Luo Huan, Jin Zhao, and Yue Qi enter Mist Soul to go back to 3 years ago. They make their way to the Dragon Pool. Bian Luo Huan enters it and vanishes and Jin Zhao emerge to repeat the same events that have been history in the future timeline.

History Of The Yu Clan

Viewers will know why Yue Qi was entrusted to the Hengdao Sect in Episode 17 when they demand to have her back from Zhu Yu. 16 years ago, Zhu Yu had bound Mist Soul with her blood in order to save her clan. Mist Soul is the core of the demon realm and is the gloomiest place among the 9 Springs with the ability to slow down time. Ying Xu Wei is the guardian of Mist Soul and to ensure stability of the world, he struck a deal with Zhu Yu. He will provide Zhu Yu with Qiyuan Orbs and in return, Yue Qi will be entrusted to them as hostage. The orbs are needed for Zhu Yu to absorb energy.

In Episode 18, Shuo Xuan tells Yue Qi about the Yu Clan’s history. Shuo Xuan’s mother was the former Queen who found the Sea of Clear Skies for the clan to migrate to from the bottom of the sea. The place prospered but they didn’t know that it was built on the back of Kun. Kun was born from the sea but hibernated to gather strength before jumping out from the sea to ascend to the sky. When Kun ascended, the Sea of Clear Skies collapsed in ruins.

Ling Ye drained all her energy to enter Kun’s awareness to stop her ascension. Kun stopped and took over Ling Ye’s body to save the clan instead. Zhu Yu was Kun and she has been using her powers to keep the clan’s survivors alive and slowly nursing them back to health since then.

Yu Clan & Hengdao Sect’s War

Zhu Yu’s goal is to revive Yu Clan and save her clansmen while Hengdao Sect wants to avoid a potential catastrophe. While the Qiyuan Orbs can feed Zhu Yu with energy, they also contain dark emotions left over by the dying humans who were sacrificed. This worries the Hengdao Sect that Zhu Yu may one day turn demonic and uncontrollable. So, Yue Qi was taken as hostage by the Hengdao Sect in exchange for the orbs that Zhu Yu needs. This is because the only person who can kill Zhu Yu is her own child and that is Yue Qi. This is revealed by the sect to Yue Qi and Jin Zhao in Episode 28.

Through Mai Ming’s letters to Shi Fang and Ming Xiu on how to defeat Zhu Yu, the 2 friends decide to make the necessary sacrifices for the greater good when Zhu Yu becomes uncontrollable. Shi Fang goes on a suicide mission to smear Yue Qi’s blood on Shuo Xuan and injure her. This will cause Shuo Xuan to bring Yue Qi’s blood with her into Mist Soul where she needs to recuperate. Since Yue Qi and Zhu Yu share the same bloodline, the former’s blood could release the binding between the latter and Mist Soul. This will then weaken Zhu Yu which will make it easier for her to be defeated. Hence, Shi Fang dies in Episode 33 after carrying out his mission.

In Episode 34, Ming Xiu sacrifices her eyes as the guardian of Pureness which she inherited from her late master to see into the future. She wants to know Zhu Yu’s weak points so that she could relay them to Ying Xu Wei during the fight. As a result, Ming Xiu becomes blind.

What Happens To Zhu Yu?

Zhu Yu is defeated by Yue Qi and Jin Zhao in Episode 35. She is stabbed by Yue Qi and falls back into hibernation mode. Shuo Xuan uses the meditation spell to replace Zhu Yu’s consciousness and control her body in Episode 36. But it is not a long term solution as it is draining Shuo Xuan’s energy. Hence, Yue Qi decides to use her spiritual powers to heal Zhu Yu on the condition that Zhu Yu must be put in a time stasis and the Yu Clan must return to the sea.

Shuo Xuan wants to enter the time stasis together with Zhu Yu. The remaining Yu Clan members also want to do the same to be with their leader. This effectively results in a peaceful world again.

Is There Any Breakup?

Yue Qi wants Jin Zhao to be her consort in Episode 14 after she returned to Yu Clan. But Jin Zhao rejects her request as he is unsure if he really likes her or his feelings are fake due to the Husheng spell that she supposedly casted on him. According to Lin Yuan, the spell will make the victim lose all their memories and personality. The victim will then live for the one who casted the spell and protect them.

Jin Zhao chooses to leave Yue Qi in Episode 15. However, he isn’t angry with Yue Qi about the spell. He just feels that he couldn’t overprotect Yue Qi and she has to learn that the world consists of more than just the 2 of them. He is also happy that Yue Qi has found her origins and her mother and it is better that she remains in Yu Clan.

When Did The Leads Get Together?

Yue Qi and Jin Zhao become a couple in Episode 18. This is after Yue Qi found out that the Husheng spell is a lie and doesn’t exist in Episode 17. She decides to leave the Yu Clan and her mother after learning what happened to the clan from Shuo Xuan. Yue Qi wants to grow up and become stronger outside of her mother’s protection so that she can help her in the future. So, she goes back to Jin Zhao after leaving the clan and the couple reunite. Jin Zhao has also been pining for her after their separation. They share their first real kiss after getting together in Episode 19.

Mai Ming’s Fate

Mai Ming is the guardian of Rehai which is a source of nourishment which Zhu Yu needs to revive Yu Clan as she couldn’t depend on the Qiyuan Orbs from Hengdao Sect. But Mai Ming has a blood bond that ties him with Rehai from a past sacrifice which he desperately wants to unbind to get his freedom. So, Ying Xu Wei strikes a deal with him to preempt Zhu Yu in Episode 20. He will let Mai Ming know how to cut the bond in exchange for the Rehai key. It could be done either by sacrificing his closest kin who is Zhao Yan or his entire clansmen.

Mai Ming chooses to sacrifice his clansmen. Thus, he drove Zhao Yan away to keep her safe in Episode 20. He carries out the ritual to unbind in Episode 25 but forcibly cuts short the process when Zhao Yan suddenly returns to the Luo Mansion. Mai Ming doesn’t have the heart to kill her. While he gains his freedom from the bond, he ends up with only 3 days to live as a result without the ability to reincarnate. However, Mai Ming has no regrets.

Due to the many deaths caused by Mai Ming, the people want revenge against him as well as Zhao Yan as they are seen to be in cahoots. Mai Ming dies when he shields Zhao Yan from a revenge attack in Episode 26. Before he dies, he passes the Rehai key to Zhao Yan and leaves a letter each to Shi Fang and Ming Xiu on how to defeat Zhu Yu. This is to help ensure Zhao Yan’s safety when the battle comes.

Zhao Yan & Xian Qing

Xian Qing already knows Zhao Yan is a woman very early on as he could detect his energy in her. In Episode 9, she learns that he had made a deal with her father who had wanted half of Xian Qing’s demonic orb to save her life 20 years ago. But her father died before he could fulfill his end of the bargain. So, Zhao Yan returns his energy to him after he became seriously injured during a fight. She still wants to hide her gender and insists that she is doing so to repay her father’s debt rather than admit that she has fallen for him.

In Episode 13, Xian Qing lets Zhao Yan knows that he already knew early on that she is a woman and gives her a hairpin as a gift. He confesses to her in Episode 15 and tells her that he doesn’t mind her short life as the twins of the Luo family are meant to die young. Zhao Yan then makes her decision and tells Xian Qing that she will get together with him when they meet again after her mission.

Xian Qing is willing to sacrifice his life to free Zhao Yan in Episode 20 when she is being held by Mai Ming who seems resentful of her freedom and ability to find love and friendship. Mai Ming didn’t kill them but orders Zhao Yan to leave Luo Mansion. Xian Qing is supportive of Zhao Yan throughout her various ordeals related to Mai Ming. He almost dies to protect Zhao Yan during the war with the Yu Clan in Episode 34. They settle down as a couple after Zhu Yu’s defeat in Episode 36.

Other Key Events

• Gao Xiao is petrified by Bian Luo Huan in Episode 19 when it is time for Hengdao Sect to let Qiyuan Sect to be destroyed by Jin Zhao and his friends.
• Gu Han Jiang is seriously injured when he chooses to sacrifice himself to save everyone during an attack on Qiyuan Sect’s headquarters in Episode 19. He subsequently dies and prayers are offered at his tomb in Episode 22.
• Zuo Guan Ren dies in Episode 34 during the war with the Yu Clan.
• Lin Yuan dies in Episode 34 when Zhu Yu’s scales rain down from the sky after getting hit by Ying Xu Wei. Ge Qing Fei is also seriously injured from the incident.
• Ge Qing Fei has fallen into a coma following her injuries in Episode 35.

Sword And Fairy Review – Slow Gradual Reveal

First of all, Sword And Fairy is a stand alone story and you don’t have to watch any of the Chinese Paladin series before watching this title. Secondly, this is an adaptation of a game and I have not played it before. Hence, I can’t comment on how it fares in comparison to the game. However, I also think this is where it might attract some viewers but repel others. Just like a game whereby you get more of the adventure and the story behind it as you enter higher levels, the drama seems to have that same concept.

Basically, you start off knowing very little to the story. You are like a novice grappling for hints. There are many unanswered questions that makes almost everything a mystery including the origins of the 2 main leads. This continues for about 15 to 20 episodes before the story starts to take shape. Hence, some will find this interesting because of the mysterious nature of the storytelling. But others might not have the patience for such a slow set-up and gradual reveal. For me, I do find the first half to be a little boring. At times, I get the feeling that scenes are being stretched which slow down the story progress.

Apart from the long set-up, there may be 2 other factors that could potentially turn viewers off. The first is the voice of the actress and the second is the complexity of the story.

Love Her Or Hate Her

Esther Yu’s voice and manner of speaking have always been a recurring issue in almost all her dramas. She speaks like a little girl which is cute for some but annoying for others. I think I’m used to her style of speaking by now after watching a few of her dramas. The first time I saw her in a leading role was in Moonlight and It did take me some time to quit being turned off by her while I was watching it. So, if this is your first time watching Esther Yu in action, then you will just have to learn to get used to her speaking style.

Having said that though, her child-like speech actually fits her role in Sword And Fairy. This is because she plays a very innocent character in the story. Thus, it makes sense to speak that way and it shouldn’t be as annoying. I guess she will still have her fair share of haters but personally, I have no problem listening to her speak in the drama.

A Complex Plot

Sword And Fairy is not the type of drama whereby you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the romance like Amidst A Snowstorm Of Love. This is a very complex story. You can’t skip or fast forward although it has a very slow set-up just like My Journey To You. This is because there are a lot of details in some of the dialogues. So, if you miss those, you won’t be able to understand the story. Like it or nor, you will have to be patient and wait for the plot to unravel bit by bit. Then, you will have to figure out how everything fits together.

I highly doubt if everyone can get the full picture of what is going on in the story especially when it reaches the time travel parts. It is not well-presented to me. You really have to pause and/or rewind some scenes to understand all the details. Otherwise, you will be wondering about the logic of the story and there will be gaps that you can’t fill to get a complete tale.

Therefore, the complexity does not make this a stress-free and relaxing watch. This drama is best reserved for the time when you have the patience and energy to give it your full attention.

Romance & Chemistry

Sword And Fairy is more than just romance. In fact, the romance isn’t anything great to me. There is very little skinship between the leads and hence, you’d better not raise your expectations when it comes to the kisses. This is a plot driven drama like Divine Destiny. It aims to tell the story of 2 people who are looking for their origins and the mysteries arising from their background. When the story begins, the 2 leads are already deeply connected to each other. So, there is no anticipation for me when it comes to their relationship.

There are heartbreaks here and there because the couple is very close to one another. So, the emotional moments are there although it really depends on how much you ship them as a couple. If you sense blazing chemistry between them, then the drama will be more heart-wrenching. But if the chemistry is only so-so overall, then the other aspects of the story will be more captivating rather than the romance.

Personally, I don’t see Xu Kai and Esther Yu having top notch chemistry in Sword And Fairy. Esther Yu’s partnership with Dylan Wang in Love Between Fairy And Devil generates better chemistry to me while I also like Xu Kai’s flirting with Jing Tian in Wonderland Of Love. It’s not that Xu Kai and Esther Yu acted badly or have zero chemistry in the drama but that off-the-charts vibes between them is missing for me.

My Verdict – Good Enough To Give It A Go

Sword And Fairy is definitely a watchable title. You should give a try because it is not your typical C-drama. It has a tinge of mystery to it with the pieces being revealed slowly for you to gel the story together as the drama progresses. It does tie things up pretty well in the end. The only problem is getting there requires patience and attention because the story is slow in the first half and not so easy to digest overall given the complexity. Therefore, it is not a great drama to me but good enough to give it a go.

Apart from the leads, the other characters in the drama are also well-written. Some do not appear often but they still make an impact and contribute to the story. So, if the romance between the leads is not up to par for you, there is also the friendship, family relationships, and other subplots involving the different characters to make the story more interesting. All these different aspects are tied together in a very cohesive and logical manner to the main plot so that the story doesn’t lose its focus.

In short, the romance is only one part of it. The mystery of the protagonists’ origin is the meat of the story. Hence, I’m not sure if you should watch it for the romance if that is what you are after. Overall, I would give this Sword And Fairy review a score of 7.5/10. I would have preferred if the story could be told in a more simplified manner so that it is easier to understand. But just bear in mind that this is a fantasy based story. So, the happenings can turn a little imaginative and brains are needed to figure out all the details.