Sword Snow Stride Review

From what I have read, Sword Snow Stride (雪中悍刀行) is a much anticipated Chinese historical drama for 2021. As such, it is hard to give this a miss. Yet, this drama is not that highly rated on Douban. It is getting less than 6 the last time I checked when I was writing up this review. In other words, it is a pretty average drama for a lot of mainland viewers. On the other hand, the international audience is far more liberal with their scores for the same drama. So, what is my take on this title? Read my Sword Snow Stride review below to find out. The ending, review, and verdict start from midway through this post if you want to skip the cast and characters introduction.

My rating: 8/10
Episodes: 38
Type: Wuxia
Aired: December 2021
Images Credit: WeTV

The Cast Of Sword Snow Stride 2021

• Zhang Ruo Yun as Xu Feng Nian
• Hu Jun as Xu Xiao
• Teresa Li Geng Xi as Jiang Ni
• Zhang Tian Ai as Nangong Pu Ye
• Vengo Gao Wei Guang as Chen Zhi Bao
• Liu Tian Zuo as Zhu Lu Shan
• Liu Duan Duan as Zhao Kai
• Rong Zi Shan as Xu Long Xiang
• Qiu Xin Zhi as Li Chun Gang
• Tian Xiao Jie as Wei Shu Yang / Grandpa Wei
• Zhang Yi Shang as Shu Xiu
• Ding Xiao Ying as Qing Niao
• Gao Tai Yu as Ning E’mei
• Zhang Tian Yang as Lin Tan Hua / Lu Qian Tang
• Tao Hai as Hudi Lao Kui / Chu Kuang Nu
• Yang Hao Yu as Old Huang / Jian Jiu Huang

The Characters

Northern Liang

Xu Xiao – Lord Of Northern Liang

Northern Liang is a vassal state governed by Xu Xiao who is a powerful warlord with a large army. He reports to the Emperor who resides in Liyang. Xu Xiao is a general and a brilliant strategist who always thinks a few steps ahead. He doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice others when the situation calls for it to protect Northern Liang. Xu Xiao’s late wife is Wu Su who is from the reputable Wu family of the Qing Yang Sect which is famous for their swordsmanship. They have 4 children together namely, Zhi Hu, Wei Xiong, Feng Nian, and Long Xiang.

Xu Feng Nian

Feng Nian is Xu Xiao and Wu Su’s eldest son. He is a joker on the surface with a non-serious demeanor and a reputation as a useless playboy. While Feng Nian has no interest to take over his father’s position, he is a very astute and smart young man who can see through other people’s plan. He also refuses to learn martial arts.

Xu Zhi Hu

Zhi Hu is Feng Nian’s eldest sister. Her marriage was a political alliance between Jiangnan and Northern Liang. She is now a widow in Jiangnan but has no regrets sacrificing for her state.

Xu Wei Xiong

Wei Xiong is Feng Nian’s second elder sister. She was sent to the Shangyin Academy to gain scholars’ acceptance of the Xu family. She is a top scholar at the academy and is a fierce and no-nonsense lady. Zhao Kai is a fellow student and is interested in her.

Xu Long Xiang

Long Xiang is Feng Nian’s younger brother. He has great talent for martial arts with his extraordinary strength. That is why he is supported by some soldiers to be Xu Xiao’s successor. However, Long Xiang is too trusting and naive. Hence, he is easily influenced and a prime candidate to be made a pawn in the bigger scheme of things. Long Xiang shares a very close bond with Feng Nian.

Chen Zhi Bao & Zhu Lu Shan

Both of them are Xu Xiao’s foster sons with their own battalion. Zhu Lu San is extremely loyal to Feng Nian and fawns over him. Chen Zhi Bao is the son of a fallen general who used to fight alongside Xu Xiao. He is passionate about keeping Northern Liang safe and thinks he can do a better job than Feng Nian. He sees Feng Nian as an unsuitable leader with his playful antics.

Ning E’mei

E’mei is a battalion general in the Northern Liang army. He is loyal to Long Xiang and regards the latter as the deserving successor to Xu Xiao.

Nangong Pu Ye

Nangong Pu Ye is a pugilist who is only interested to become the best martial arts fighter. She is from Northern Mang which was another state conquered by Xu Xiao. She ends up in Northern Liang and has access to all the martial arts books in the Xu family’s library after saving Feng Nian during her travels.

Old Huang / Jian Jiu Huang

Old Huang is the Xu family’s coachman. He is also Feng Nian’s traveling companion and his favorite servant. They have a very close bond.

Shu Xiu & Qing Niao

Both of them are arranged by Xu Xiao to serve as Feng Nian’s bodyguards. They are skillful in martial arts.

Wei Shu Yang / Grandpa Wei

Grandpa Wei is Xu Xiao’s servant in the family’s library pavilion. He is also good in martial arts and one of Feng Nian’s bodyguard.

Li Yi Shan

Li Yi Shan was Xu Xiao’s military counselor. He is also Feng Nian’s master who teaches him chess and strategies. He is a recluse who spends his days holed up in the top level of the Xu family’s library pavilion.

Western Chu

Jiang Ni

Jiang Ni was a princess of Western Chu which fell into the hands of Xu Xiao. Her father was the Emperor and her whole family had to die after they lost the war. Xu Xiao promised the fallen Emperor to spare Jiang Ni’s life. She was just a little girl then. Hence, Jiang Ni was brought back to Northern Liang and became Feng Nian’s maid. They have a unique relationship because she is always thinking of killing him to avenge her parents’ death while he indulges her because he knows she will never succeed. Jiang Ni is a proud and determined lady.

Yu You Wei

You Wei is a dancer at a brothel in Northern Liang. She is from Western Chu and unwittingly being used to assassinate Feng Nian but fails. Feng Nian then puts her up in his manor and she becomes friends with Jiang Ni. You Wei’s mother was the leader of a swords team in Western Chu.

Cao Chang Qing

Cao Chang Qing is also known as the Elegant Man in Black. He is a top ranked martial arts practitioner. Cao Chang Qing used to be a minister of Western Chu and Jiang Ni’s chess teacher.

Qingzhou

Zhao Heng

Zhao Heng is the Lord of Jing’an who controls Qingzhou. He is a devout Buddhist on the surface with a calm demeanor and also a strategist who knows how to read the situation. Zhao Heng was involved in the fight for the throne when the previous Emperor died but failed. Qingzhou and Northern Liang are seen as hostile towards each other which is what the Emperor wants in order to keep the power balance. Zhao Heng is also widely known as a man who totally adores his current consort.

Pei Nan Wei

Pei Nan Wei is Zhao Heng’s current consort. She is a quiet and seemingly timid woman. She is often seen at his side and is widely known as Zhao Heng’s most beloved woman.

Zhao Xun

Zhao Xun is Zhao Heng’s son. He is a general but impulsive and reckless. Zhao Kai is his friend.

Lin Tan Hua / Lu Qian Tang

Lin Tan Hua is a top 3 scholar in the imperial exam. The Lin family is a reputable family in Qingzhou and they have control over the state finances. Lin Tan Hua is against the rule of the Xu family and ends up in Northern Liang to openly oppose them.

Wang Lin Quan

Wang Lin Quan is Lin Tan Hua’s replacement after the latter left for Northern Liang. His youngest daughter is Wang Chu Dong who can summon an ancient sea creature.

Wudang Sect

Wang Chong Lou

Wang Chong Lou is the master of the Wudang Sect. He has acquired a top level of a certain martial art practice with great inner power. His ultimate aim is to keep Wudang Sect safe from the dispute between Northern Liang and the imperial family in Liyang.

Hong Xi Xiang

Hong Xi Xiang is the younger disciple brother of Wang Chong Lou. His goal is to be the best martial artist in the world and he made a vow not to leave the mountains until he succeeds. That is why his relationship with Zhi Hu didn’t work out.

Mount Longhu Sect

Zhao Xi Tuan

Zhao Xi Tuan is one of the Arch Taoists of Mount Longhu Sect. He is a highly skilled martial artist who wants to take Long Xiang to be his disciple. Mount Longhu Sect is safe from the capital’s attack because someone important is residing in their mountains. It is also a powerful sect approved by the royalty and is being used to annex the other sects in the pugilist world.

Zhao Dan Ping

Zhao Dan Ping is also one of the four Arch Taoists of Mount Longhu Sect. He is based in the capital and associated with Prime Minister Zhang Ju Lu.

Zhao Xuan Su

Zhao Xuan Su is the founder of Mount Longhu Sect. He is a very old man but appears as a little boy with a desire to achieve immortality.

Qing Yang Sect

Wu Ling Su

Wu Ling Su is the Lord of Qing Cheng and master of the Qing Yang Sect. The Wu family is famous for their swordsmanship. The Qing Yang Sect and Xu Xiao are seemingly hostile adversaries. This is because the Qing Yang Sect never approved of Xu Xiao’s marriage to Wu Su who was from the Wu clan. The Qing Yang Sect is also seen is pro-monarchy.

Zhao Yu Tai

Zhao Yu Tai is Wu Ling Su’s wife. They a son, Wu Shi Zen, who is being held hostage in Liyang to ensure the Qing Yang Sect’s support. Zhao Yu Tai also used to be Wu Su’s subordinate.

Wu Liu Ding

Wu Liu Ding is the current best swordsman of the Wu family. He wants to kill Feng Nian to avenge the humiliation of the Wu family when Xu Xiao married Wu Su. He is accompanied by Cui Hua.

Jiangnan

Lu Bai Jie

Lu Bai Jie is the Sword Immortal of Tangxi as well as head of the Lu clan who controls Jiangnan. The Lu clan is related to the Xu family through marriage as Zhi Hu is their daughter-in-law. This is a political marriage to strike a delicate alliance between the 2 states. Lu Bai Jie also regards Western Chu as his greatest enemy because the their soldiers had once killed his cousin brother.

Liu Li Ting

Liu Li Ting is a gentry of Jiangnan. Zhi Hu is rumored to have seduced him which incurred the wrath of Mrs. Liu.

The Capital, Liyang

Zhao Feng Ya / Princess Sui Zhu

Princess Sui Zhu was once engaged to Feng Nian but he broke it off which caused her embarrassment. Hence, Princess Sui Zhu hates Feng Nian. She is an arrogant lady who thinks Feng Nian is not up to mark in terms of intellect.

Sun Diao Si / Eunuch Sun

Eunuch Sun is Princess Sui Zhu’s subordinate.

Han Diao Si / Eunuch Han

Eunuch Han is the Chief Eunuch of Liyang. He is a highly skilled martial artist with his own agenda in disposing off Feng Nian. Zhao Kai is his disciple.

Zhang Ju Lu

Zhang Ju Lu is the Prime Minister of Liyang. He is a powerful man who has an aim to dethrone all the warlords.

Mount Hui / Xuanyuan Clan

Xuanyuan Qing Feng

Qing Feng is the daughter of the eldest son of the Xuanyuan Clan which is a pugilist sect and controls the waterways. They are based in Mount Hui and has a long history. Qing Feng doesn’t get along well with her father, Jing Cheng.

Xuanyuan Jing Cheng

Jing Cheng is the eldest son of the clan but spends all his time reading. He is seen as weak with no martial art skills. He is estranged from his wife who feels he could do nothing useful.

Xuanyuan Jing Yi

Jing Yi is the second son and the only one who has free access to the Old Ancestor of the clan.

Xuanyuan Jing Xuan

Jing Xuan is the third son who manages the family business. He is a sinister man who wants to become the official master of the clan.

Xuanyuan Da Pan

Da Pan is the Old Ancestor of the clan by virtue of his martial art prowess. He is an old man and Xuanyuan Clan depends on him to maintain their pugilist prestige and reputation.

Yuan Ting Shan

Yuan Ting Shan is Jing Cheng’s retainer in Mount Hui. He has martial art skills and carries out errands for Jing Cheng.

Others

Zhao Kai

Zhao Kai is a scholar at Shangyin Academy and Eunuch Han’s disciple. While he is interested in Wei Xiong, he also has his own selfish reason to kill Feng Nian.

Li Chun Gang

Li Chun Gang is the God of Sword and regarded as a senior in the pugilist world. He is highly skilled with immense inner powers. He is locked up in the Xu family’s library pavilion but freed to protect Feng Nian after striking a deal with Xu Xiao.

Chu Kuang Nu

Chu Kuang Nu is a bladesman from Northern Mang who is chained up under the lake of the Xu Manor.

Ms. Hehe

Ms. Hehe is a hired assassin with a mission to kill Feng Nian. He knows her as a beef noodle seller in Northern Liang.

Zhao Huang Chao

Zhao Huang Chao is also known as the Fisherman. He has powers to disturb a person’s mind and knows their desires and weaknesses. He leads a reclusive life but is related to the royalty.

Wang Xian Zhi

Wang Xian Zhi is the 2nd ranked martial artist in the pugilist world. He is based in Wudi City.

Deng Tai’e

Deng Tai’e is the Peach Blossoms Sword God. He is one of the top ranked martial artists.

Synopsis

Feng Nian is the eldest son of the Lord of Northern Liang, Xu Xiao. His father fought wars and defeated 6 states to unite the Central Plains. Xu Xiao now oversees 3 states and commands a 350,000 strong army. Hence, the imperial family in the capital is wary of Xu Xiao and is awaiting the opportunity to bring him down. Feng Nian himself is a target of assassination due to his status despite being a carefree guy. He is smart and witty but refuses to learn martial arts and take over the governance of Northern Liang from his father.

However, Xu Xiao has a different idea as enemies are lurking around both internal and external. With factionalism within his own camp, he needs a smart successor to protect Northern Liang rather than be made into a pawn. Otherwise, chaos would erupt once he dies. After much scheming, Feng Nian reluctantly agrees to inherit the position.

But Feng Nian disagrees with his father’s way of relying on threats, executions, and sacrificing of the innocents to maintain stability. He wants to chart his own path while facing rivals from his own camp and threats from the capital. This tests his intelligence and foresight to get around his father’s prior arrangements while ensuring his own safety and those around him.

Sword Snow Stride Ending (Spoilers Alert!)

Sword Snow Stride has a satisfactory ending given that this is only part of the story. This is Season 1 with the rest of the installments still pending. Nothing is known at this stage of when the rest of the story will be produced. But whatever it is, the ending for this first season feels like a completion of a book volume. Feng Nian gets to fulfill part of his revenge against the culprits that caused his mother’s early death. Together with his siblings, Chen Zhi Bao, Nangong Pu Ye, Qing Niao, and Yuan Ting Shan. they killed Eunuch Han and Zhao Kai.

After the duel, Feng Nian has to part ways again with his siblings. They couldn’t return together to Northern Liang because that would raise suspicion about what they had done to Eunuch Han and Zhao Kai. Hence, each of them goes back to where they came from. As for Feng Nian, his next stop will be Northern Mang to look for the people who colluded with Eunuch Han to assassinate his mother. This will be the next part of his adventure.

The drama ends with Hong Xi Xiang of the Wudang Sect awakening from his meditative state. He had gone into that state when the Heaven’s Gate opened ajar during the fight between Li Chun Gang and Wang Xian Zhi in Episode 36. There is obviously more to Hong Xi Xiang than a weak and timid Taoist with little martial art skills which should come in the next season.

Is There Any Romance?

Romance is not the focus of Sword Snow Stride. The relationship between Feng Nian and Jiang Ni has a lot bickering which is also used to mask their true feelings. There are no kisses or hugs in this drama. Instead, their attraction for each other is of the subtle kind. The only time Jiang Ni’s feelings are openly mentioned is in Episode 27. This is when You Wei blurts out that the reason Jiang Ni is always trying to kill Feng Nian is because she wants to make him hate her. Jiang Ni knows that her life will be traded by Xu Xiao one day due to her special status. When that happens, she doesn’t want Feng Nian to feel sad.

The couple has to part ways in Episode 33. Jiang Ni has to take up her responsibility as the Princess of Western Chu once again. So, she has to go to West Shu where her people have gathered after the fall of their country. Feng Nian gives Jiang Ni his late mother’s sword as a parting gift. It is an implicit understanding that he will marry her because the sword is meant for his future wife as per his late mother’s wish. This is revealed in Episode 15 when he got the sword from Zhou Yu Tai. In return, Feng Nian receives the Divine Token dagger from Jiang Ni. This is a Western Chu treasure which she has always kept with her.

Feng Nian’s Allies

During his adventure, Feng Nian will come across numerous people who are there to help him. Some are his father’s men while others are indebted to his late mother.

• Shu Xiu first appears as Lin Tan Hua’s companion in Episode 4 but she is actually working for Xu Xiao.
• Wang Lin Quan is Xu Xiao’s planted mole in Qingzhou and this is revealed in Episode 16.
• Zhao Xi Tuan is Old Huang’s good friend. He helps Feng Nian to keep Long Xiang in Mount Longhu Episode 9 after being asked to do so by Old Huang.
• The Qing Yang Sect is friendly towards Liyang on the surface. But Wu Ling Su and Zhao Yu Tai are secretly helping Xu Xiao to keep an eye on the capital. Feng Nian sees Zhao Yu Tai as an aunt as she was his mother’s closest subordinate. She is also the one who told Feng Nian that his mother was nearly killed in Liyang one night in Episode 15. His mother survived the assassination attempt but a relapse from the injuries suffered caused her death a few years later.
• Eunuch Sun is another one of Xu Xiao’s mole in Liyang.
• Yuan Ting Shan is Feng Nian’s acquired ally as they have a common enemy in Eunuch Han. He is working for General Gu and this is revealed in Episode 38.
• Ms. Hehe had once received a hairpin from Feng Nian’s mother when she was a little girl in misery. So, she protects Feng Nian to repay the gratitude.
• Deng Tai’e was also a recipient of Wu Su’s kindness in the past when she provided him shelter and gave him pointers on swordsmanship.

When Did Feng Nian Start To Learn Martial Arts?

Feng Nian starts to learn martial arts after the death of Old Huang in Episode 9. He was never interested earlier as he has no plans to take over the rule of Northern Liang from his father. He thought he will just be the target of assassination the more capable he becomes.

However, Old Huang died after exhausting himself in a challenge with Wang Xian Zhi. His treasured sword box is hanging on the Wudi City wall. Feng Nian wants to retrieve it for his favorite servant and the only way to do so is to defeat Wang Xian Zhi. Hence, his interest in martial arts takes root from there.

Feng Nian gets a boost in his prowess when the master of the Wudang Sect transfers his inner powers to him in Episode 10. The master does so to protect his sect from being sandwiched between Northern Liang and the royalty. Feng Nian then gradually acquires more and more skills through Li Chun Gang’s teachings and Deng Tai’e’s sword gift.

Li Chun Gang’s Past

Li Chun Gang chose to be locked up and be a recluse after he killed the woman he loved. She was also his enemy’s daughter. This was after Li Chun Gang lost the fight with Wang Xian Zhi. Fearing that he would lose confidence in himself, his beloved challenged him to a duel and then allowed him to kill her. Li Chun Gang revealed this to Feng Nian in Episode 32.

After her death, Xu Xiao built Li Chun Gang the place for him to hide himself in Xu Manor. Xu Xiao has also been taking care of the woman’s tomb on his behalf. That is why Li Chun Gang is willing to help Xu Xiao to protect Feng Nian. It is also an opportunity for him to challenge Wang Xian Zhi again for another round of fight. Li Chun Gang tells Feng Nian this in Episode 35.

In the end, Li Chun Gang and Wang Xian Zhi didn’t complete their second fight because if they have done so, they would have opened up the Heaven’s Gate completely. They stop short of doing that in Episode 36. But Li Chun Gang knows that he would have lost if they had fought to the end although Wang Xian Zhi sees it as a draw.

Did Wang Xian Zhi Try To Kill Wu Su?

No, he didn’t. If he was involved in the assassination attempt, Wu Su would have been easily killed given his supreme martial art skills. The fact that she survived tells Feng Nian that Wang Xian Zhi couldn’t be the killer. Using Li Chun Gang’s clout, Feng Nian has a chance to question Wang Xian Zhi in Episode 37. Wang Xian Zhi tells Feng Nian that he was in the capital on the night of the assassination attempt but he wasn’t there to meet Wu Su. But he did notice Eunuch Han and some Northern Mang people in the capital then.

Wu Su’s Assassination

The royal family was afraid that Northern Liang would be too powerful to control as time goes by. Hence, they needed to assassinate Wu Su. To deflect suspicion on Liyang and avoid retaliation from Northern Liang, they created a fake order to give the impression that Eunuch Han had been sent out of the capital.

However, Wu Su survived the assassination attempt. Xu Xiao would have rebelled if not for Wu Su keeping quiet about the incident. Wu Su did so because she didn’t want Xu Xiao to start another war and cause hardship to the people. Eunuch Han admits to Feng Nian about his role in his mother’s death in Episode 38 before a fight ensues between them. Eunuch Han is eventually killed by Feng Nian. He dies before Feng Nian could question him further about his Northern Mang accomplices in the assassination attempt.

Zhao Kai’s Background

Zhao Kai is the Emperor’s illegitimate son while his mother died young. Hence, he is never officially recognized as part of the royal family. His identity as a prince is revealed in Episode 18. Eunuch Han and Zhao Kai’s plan is to kill Feng Nian so that Northern Liang would rebel. This would then create chaos everywhere and Zhao Kai would have a chance to fight for the throne. The reason why Eunuch Han is helping Zhao Kai is because he is indebted to Zhao Kai’s mother who once saved his life.

Sword Snow Stride Review – Slow-Moving

Personally, I find Sword Snow Stride to be slow-moving especially for the first 10 episodes or so. This is a kind of “intelligent” drama whereby you will have lots of schemings which means close attention is needed when you watch. Otherwise, you would be lost if you don’t listen to the dialogues and pick up on the subtleties. This is not your typical rom-coms and romance dramas like Qing Luo or The Eternal Love Season 3. So, if you are looking for something relaxing and stress-free, leave Sword Snow Stride for some other time.

Although the pacing seems to be slow, I can also understand why it is being done that way. If the pace is any quicker, the unique charm of the story and its characters would have been lost. The plots and counter-plots will also be difficult to follow. Therefore, you really need to follow the male protagonist’s adventure from start to finish to enjoy the drama because it is both story and character-driven.

The Plot In A Nutshell

Basically, the setting revolves around a powerful warlord, Xu Xiao, who controls Northern Liang and the royal administration in Liyang. Obviously, the people in Liyang are uncomfortable with Xu Xiao’s power and is trying to bring him down. In this tug-of-war, the pugilist sects are also forced to stand on one side or the other.

The drama has 2 arcs. The first 12 episodes is about Xu Xiao trying to scheme his way into convincing Feng Nian to be his heir and take over the governance of Northern Liang. The second arc is about Feng Nian’s journey to retrieve his beloved servant’s sword box from a top martial artist and avenging his mother’s death before he takes over from his father. The 2 arcs may not seem related on the surface but it is actually all part of Xu Xiao’s plan. Feng Nian’s journey is needed because some things need to happen along the way to convince the Emperor to allow Northern Liang to have hereditary succession.

Thus, Sword Snow Stride is all about schemings with Xu Xiao always thinking a few steps ahead and Feng Nian being caught in the middle of it. But Feng Nian is too smart himself to be led by the nose and would tweak his father’s plans as he sees fit. In other words, he learned not to be the chess piece but the chess player. Hence, the drama would be good for those who love strategies and intrigues. But will be boring for those who don’t have the patience for explanations for each move made.

Lots Of Characters

If you have gone through the characters introduction above, you would notice that the list is rather long compared to other dramas of comparable length. What this means is that Sword Snow Stride is a drama with a lot of characters. They appear for a few episodes and then fade away as the story moves on except for a few central personalities.

The way the story is structured is that Feng Nian will have a few stops along his adventure. Each of these stops will be like a mini story in itself. As the mini story completes and he moves on to his next stop, these characters will also disappear and new ones will take their place in the following stop. So, it is not as confusing as it seems despite the long list of characters.

However, the background story to some of these characters are never explained. They remained mysterious and are left at that such as Pei Nan Wei and Hong Xi Xiang. Perhaps their story will continue in Season 2 and the screenwriter wants to keep that suspense. So, just bear in mind that you are not watching a complete story here for some of the characters. It is not a big letdown due to the rate that these characters are taken out of the picture. Hence, there is no real attachment to them but simply a tinge of curiosity of who they actually are.

Good Acting

Zhang Ruo Yun definitely nailed his role as Feng Nian. He has this jovial look and mannerisms to make Feng Nian appear playful and less threatening to his enemies. And yet, he didn’t cause the character to lose his sharpness and regal status as a lord’s heir. It is a delicate balance to maintain this character’s non-serious personality and the aura of a future ruler.

Zhang Ruo Yun’s chemistry with Hu Jun who played his father is right on point. Being a veteran actor who has acted is so many productions over the years, there is really little to complain about in his depiction of Xu Xiao. He too appears as a jovial man but you also know he hides an immense intellect and power beneath that smiling face. It is a kind of aura that experienced actors could bring to the screen to give viewers a sense of who the character really is. Anyway, 2 these actors will appear together again in the upcoming drama, The Fated General.

As for Teresa Li, you know she is going to come up short against these much more experienced co-stars. There is much room for improvement as she seemed lost on how to portray the character at times. It is a complex character to play as she should be torn between her fallen homeland and Feng Nian. But what helped her is that their relationship is not depicted as a serious romance which gave her some wriggle room. So, I got used to her constant pouts and childish anger which is her way of depicting Jiang Ni and Feng Nian’s bickering relationship.

My Verdict – Watch!

Sword Snow Stride is one of those dramas that have better script and overall production. Historical dramas with strategic power plays always need a really good script to make it logical and interesting and Sword Snow Stride succeeded to a large extent. It is a little similar to Nirvana In Fire Season 1 with all the schemings but it still doesn’t have the same level of brilliance to me. This is because you are shown the mind of an excellent strategist in Nirvana In Fire and there is an emotional background to his story.

On the other hand, the successes of the male protagonist in Sword Snow Stride seem to come down to coincidences and luck at times. It is also not obvious what the schemes are and who is ultimately pulling the strings if you don’t pay close attention which takes away some of the excitement.

Points To Note

Before you start on this drama, just beware of a few points. Firstly, this is only the first season as mentioned above. So, don’t expect a final conclusion to the story and just like Douluo Continent, you will never know when the next season will materialize. But the ending is not a cliffhanger and hence, you can let it go once the drama is over.

Secondly, this is not an intense drama despite all the plotting. If you want that kind of excitement, you are better off watching Luoyang. Sword Snow Stride is more laidback with hardly any tense moments. That is why I find it slow-moving. It is a drama for you to enjoy the schemes and be awed by the clever minds at work.

Thirdly, this is also not a romance drama. I don’t think any hardcore romance drama fans would be satisfied with hints alone. This is not Stand By Me which combines romance with strategic power plays or One And Only which has a couple who deeply yearns for one another. This is a drama whereby the romance stays largely in the background and the veil over their feelings is never entirely lifted but merely implied. In fact, it might even have a harem feel as the male protagonist is surrounded by maids, female bodyguards, and women he meets along the way!

Finally, don’t expect Sword Snow Stride to have great fighting scenes like Heaven Sword And Dragon Sabre 2019. It might have wuxia elements with all the martial arts masters but the fights are done with CGI effects. Those scenes are nothing worth repeating and a thorough disappointment for wuxia drama fans. In addition, the male protagonist is no martial arts expert.

Conclusion

For this Sword Snow Stride review, I would give it a score of 8/10. It is a good quality production with a lot of outdoor filming in various locations. It has a good script to work with and the storytelling did it justice. So, I would definitely recommend a watch for this one. As long as you are into dramas that require you to use your brain cells a little more than usual, you should find this interesting. At least, there are no silly tropes of accidental kisses or falling off a cliff.

Also, watch it for the witty dialogues and exchanges between the male protagonist and the various characters in the story. Each character has a place although their appearance may be brief. There are no fillers to lengthen the drama unnecessarily. It may not be a relaxing watch like a rom-com but it is precisely the intelligent script that is its strongest selling point.