To put it simply, Tiger And Crane (虎鹤妖师录) is a story about humans versus demons. There is wuxia element in it with fighting scenes every now and then. It is not exactly a great drama but there is enough happenings in the story to keep me going. I guess many are watching this because of the cast as well with Zhang Ling He being one of the main draws. You can read my Tiger And Crane review below to find out more about my thoughts on this drama.
My rating: 7/10
Episodes: 36
Type: Fantasy
Aired: October 2023
Images Credit: iQIYI Facebook
The Cast Of Tiger And Crane
- Jiang Long as Hu Zi
- Zhang Ling He as Qi Xiao Xuan / Qian / Yan
- Wang Yu Wen as Zhao Xin Tong
- Ye Qing as Qi Yan Ran
- He Lan Dou as Yi Mei
- Chen You Wei as Wang Yu Qian
- Heidi Wang Ji as Jiang Xi Ci / First Master Jiang
- Zhu Yong Teng as Qi Zi Lu
- Li Yu as Great Master
- Zhao Run Nan as Wu Li Dan
- Liu Yao Yuan as Cheng Ji Nian
- Wu Pei Rou as Mu Dan
- Han Cheng Yu as Mo Gu Zi
- Dai Xiang Yu as Qi Wu Ji
- Zhang Zhi Xi as White Tiger Demon
Main Characters
Hu Zi
Hu Zi is an orphan who grew up in Runyun Village. He is witty and a quick-thinker. He is righteous and will voice out his opinion on things that are unfair. Hu Zi is not one who takes bullying lying down and can be impulsive.
Qi Xiao Xuan / Qian / Yan
Xiao Xuan is the Commander of the White Camp Imperial Sorcerer in Fulong. His job is to catch and kill demons. Xiao Xuan has a cold and serious personality with Qian being one of his twin primordial spirits. The other twin is Yan who is more ruthless.
Zhao Xin Tong
Xin Tong is the only daughter of Zhao Hao Tian who is the leader of the Zhao Sect. She is a demon slayer who goes around disguised as a man to escape his father’s attention. She is a determined young lady who wants to protect the people from demons like her late mother.
Supporting Characters
Qi Yan Ran
Yan Ran is Xiao Xuan’s elder sister but they do not get along as she sees her brother as being too weak and softhearted. She is a ruthless and ambitious woman who will not hesitate to use underhanded tactics to achieve her goals. Yan Ran is the Commander of the Black Camp Imperial Sorcerer.
Yi Mei
Yi Mei is a sorcerer of treasures. Her master was Ye Kong Ming who was Qi Wu Ji’s wife 500 years ago. Yi Mei is a scheming fairy with her own personal agenda. Xing Zhi is her personal aide.
Wang Yu Qian
Yu Qian is a scholar who likes to write trashy romance books. He is street-wise and knows when to give in to avoid trouble. He has a calm and rational personality.
Jiang Xi Ci / First Master Jiang
First Master Jiang is Xiao Xuan and Yan Ran’s grandmother and Matriarch of the Qi family. She is also the Chief of Disha Hall which is responsible for solving cases involving demons and bandits and obtaining evidence. She is partial towards Xiao Xuan and prefers him to be the heir of Tiangang Hall. First Master Jiang is assisted by Second Master of Disha Hall.
Qi Zi Lu
Qi Zi Lu is Xiao Xuan and Yan Ran’s father. He is the Chief Commanding Master of Tiangang Hall whose responsibility is to protect the people and eliminate demons and bandits. He is a strict father who can’t stand weaknesses but prefers his children to be hardhearted in carrying out their duties. Hence, he is partial towards Yan Ran.
Great Master
Great Master is Xiao Xuan’s magic weapon. He used to belong to Qi Wu Ji who was a past hero.
Wu Li Dan
Wu Li Dan is the Deputy Commander of the Black Camp Imperial Sorcerer. He has an axe to grind with the Zhao family supposedly due to a past disagreement between their ancestors.
Cheng Ji Nian
Cheng Ji Nian is the son of Cheng Shu who is one of the members of the Elders Council in Fulong. He is a bully and an unscrupulous young man.
Mu Dan
Mu Dan is a courtesan in Wanchun Pavilion. She has feelings for XIao Xuan but it is unrequited.
Mo Gu Zi
Mo Gu Zi is a royal sorcerer and descendant of Mo Qian Chou who was one of the heroes that fought the Demon Emperor. He has a close relationship with Xi Men Miao Miao who is a team captain of Tiangang Palace.
Qi Wu Ji
Qi Wu Ji is the ancestor of the Qi family from 500 years ago. He is deemed a hero who killed the Demon Emperor. Qi Wu Ji had a younger twin brother, Qi Wu Shuang, who was a cripple.
White Tiger Demon
White Tiger Demon is Hu Zi’s mother who was shot by Qi Wu Ji during the battle with the demons 500 years ago.
Synopsis
Long time ago, the Oriental Continent was plagued by rampant demons. 5 sorcerers sacrificed themselves to kill the Demon Emperor whose blood turned into the Netherworld Sea. This sea divided the continent into 3 states, namely Fulong, Qianyu, and Julun. In order to resist the Netherworld Sea, the sorcerers from these 3 states formed an alliance and used a Red Pearl to create a formation to protect themselves from attacks.
500 years later, the Red Pearl shows signs of cracking and a replacement has to be found. The task falls on Xiao Xuan, an imperial sorcerer. Along the way, he meets and befriends Hu Zi who is an orphan, and Xin Tong who is also a demon slayer. Together, they investigate and take down demons who are killing people. But Hu Zi’s identity raises suspicion due to his tiger tail and strength that could appear at critical moments.
Hu Zi becomes curious about his origin and starts to investigate what happened to his mother. At the same time, sorcerers are getting killed for their spirit essence by someone within their camp who has their own secret agenda tied to the past.
Tiger And Crane Ending & Recap (Spoilers Alert!)
Tiger And Crane has a neutral ending. Out of the 4 friends, 2 end up getting killed. In Episode 35, Yu Qian and Xin Tong die during the final showdown with Qi Wu Shuang who has taken over Qi Wu Ji’s body and identity 500 years earlier. Xin Tong is stabbed when she got near to Qi Wu Shuang to snatch away the Phurba ancient weapon. With Xin Tong’s death, Hu Zi becomes incensed and with the Phurba weapon, his divine powers burst forth.
Similarly, Xiao Xuan’s divine power is awakened when the curse of the twin primordial spirit is broken. Together with Hu Zi, they manage to kill Qi Wu Shuang and enter his body/consciousness to find out what happened in the past. That is when they discover that everything about the past was a lie that has been perpetuated by Qi Wu Shuang. Peak Valley was actually a paradise-like island inhabited by gods and spiritual animals 500 years ago. It turned barren after Qi Wu Shuang killed the Mountain God (who has the form of a crane) in a fit of rage.
Hu Zi and Xiao Xuan clear Qi Wu Shuang’s resentment and return the Phurba ancient weapon to the Mountain God. Peak Valley then regains its paradise form and the flow of blood into the sea stops. Hu Zi decides to remain in Peak Valley while Xiao Xuan returns to Fulong. He also still yearns for Xin Tong. Wu Li Dan places Xin Tong’s memorial tablet at Tiangang Hall as she had always wanted the Zhao family to regain their place there. A fortune teller predicts to Xiao Xuan that he will meet Hu Zi again in the future. The 2 friends are seen looking out towards the sea in each other’s direction in the last scene.
Who Is Hu Zi’s Father?
Hu Zi’s father is Qi Wu Ji. They met and fell in love when Qi Wu Ji arrived at Peak Valley to seek a cure for his twin brother’s legs 500 years ago. Hu Zi’s mother advised him to see the Mountain God for an elixir. But she doesn’t know what happened during the meeting. She only knows that Qi Wu Ji had turned demonic and killed the Mountain God. He also accused her of being a demon and was hunted down. Qi Wu Ji then shot her and she fell into the flaming sea. She was already pregnant with Qi Wu Ji’s baby at that time.
Hu Zi’s mother then used 8 of her 9 tails to survive and made it to the mainland. She nursed herself for 500 years until she was fit enough to deliver Hu Zi. She reveals this to Hu Zi and his friends in Episode 34 after she regained her human form. White Tiger had made a deal with Yi Mei. She would tell Yi Mei about the past and the location of Yi Mei’s master while Yi Mei would help her to regain her human form.
However, White Tiger is actually very weak and doesn’t have long to live as a human. She just wants to do so to reunite with Hu Zi. She dies in Episode 35 after using her remaining powers to suppress the source of the bloody water from flowing into the sea.
Yi Mei’s Agenda
Yi Mei’s agenda will be clear to viewers in Episode 32 and 33. She is helping Qi Wu Shuang who is impersonating Qi Wu Ji in return for information on the location of her master, Ye Kong Ming. Yi Mei was a doll created by Ye Kong Ming before she gained her human form in Peak Valley. Yi Mei is totally loyal and devoted to her master. 500 years ago, Ye Kong Ming fell in love with Qi Wu Ji and followed him and his brother to Peak Valley.
But Ye Kong Ming was sad when Qi Wu Ji fell for White Tiger instead. After the Demon Emperor/Mountain God was killed, Qi Wu Shuang in the guise of Qi Wu Ji turned against White Tiger who almost died at his hands. He then confessed to Ye Kong Ming and married her. They had a baby thereafter but Ye Kong Ming wasn’t happy in the marriage as she felt that “Qi Wu Ji” had changed. She stole the Phurba ancient weapon from her husband and gave it to Yi Mei together with her baby. Yi Mei was then instructed to leave the Peak Valley on a special boat that had been built.
Thus, Ye Kong Ming and her husband were left stranded in Peak Valley together with a few other sorcerers. Without the Phurba, they could no longer cross the flaming sea to go home. So, for 500 years, Yi Mei has been seeking ways to return to Peak Valley to look for her master. White Tiger brought Yi Mei to Ye Kong Ming’s coffin in Episode 33. Yi Mei dies in Episode 34 after getting stabbed by Yan Ran who has been looking for revenge. She dies next to her master’s body and transforms back to her original doll form.
The Lie
What happened 500 years earlier is revealed in full in Episode 36. Qi Wu Ji and Qi Wu Shuang were twins. However, Qi Wu Shuang was born a cripple with a mark on his face. His mother also died after delivering him. Hence, he was deemed a jinx and mistreated by everyone including his father. Only Qi Wu Ji loved him. One day, Qi Wu Ji decided to bring his brother to Peak Valley to look for a cure for his legs. On the way there, they met Ye Kong Ming and also encountered a plague that was bringing misery to many people.
Qi Wu Shuang fell for Ye Kong Ming but the latter loved Qi Wu Ji instead. Hence, Qi Wu Shuang was bitter over the rejection. Then, when they met the Mountain God, Qi Wu Ji asked for the people to be free of the epidemic and a cure for his brother. However, the Mountain God would only grant one wish and Qi Wu Ji chose for the people to be cured. Qi Wu Shuang became enraged and turned demonic. He killed the Mountain God and Qi Wu Ji and took over his body. The Mountain God’s blood flowed into the sea and turned it into flames. It also put a curse on the Qi family that their descendants will be born with 2 primordial spirits but only one body.
To hide his deed, Qi Wu Shuang pretended to be Qi Wu Ji and spread the news that he had killed the Demon Emperor. He perpetuated the lie that Peak Valley is a place where demons are born. His aim is to turn back into human and return to the mainland. For that, he needs to merge Qian’s and Yan’s primordial spirits and their heart.
The Curse
In Episode 33, Qian’s and Yan’s primordial spirits are to be merged for Qi Wu Shuang’s benefit. Both them start to talk about their disagreement and the circumstances that led to the breakdown of their relationship. In the end, Yan sacrifices himself to let Qian’s primordial spirit lives and owns the body they have been fighting over. In Episode 35, the Mountain God appears in Qian’s consciousness and tells him that the curse which was a test for the Qi family has been broken with Yan’s sacrifice. Since they have passed the test, the divine power inside the body is thus awakened.
Other Key Events
- Zhi Xie kills Man Zhu Sha Hua in Episode 17b after she becomes suspicious of him.
- Xing Zhi dies in Episode 18 when he tries to save Yi Mei who has been trapped in a formation by First Master Jiang.
- Yu Qian’s identity as the prince of Qianyu State is revealed in Episode 18.
- Yi Mei pushes First Master Jiang off a cliff in Episode 19 after Yan Ran has lured her grandmother there. First Master Jiang is saved by Mo Gu Zi who uses his family’s forbidden magic to rejuvenate her in Episode 21. She becomes youthful and assumes the identity of Mo Ling Zhi.
- Qi Zi Lu sacrifices himself to pull Zhi Xie together with him into the Netherworld Sea in Episode 19.
- Cheng Shu is exiled to the border in Episode 24 for his plot to stop Xin Tong from becoming the Chief Commander of Tiangang Hall.
- Yu Qian’s father dies in Episode 25 after being infected with demonic blood.
- Great Master dies in Episode 26 after giving his all to save Qian from dissipating since Yan has taken over Xiao Xuan’s body.
- Mo Gu Zi sacrifices himself to tie up Qi Wu Ji in Episode 33 so that others could escape as the cave they are in collapses.
- Mo Ling Zhi shields Yan Ran from Yi Mei’s attack and dies in Episode 34. Yan Ran only realizes Mo Ling Zhi is her grandmother after the latter transformed back to her original appearance upon death.
- Second Master of Disha Hall dies in Episode 34 after exhausting himself to locate the Demon Emperor’s heart with his magic spell.
Tiger And Crane Review – Boring For The Most Part
I find Tiger And Crane to be boring for more than three-quarters of the story. Just like My Journey To You, it has a very long set-up before it brings us to the exciting part towards the end. There are a lot of unanswered questions as the drama progresses and these are only revealed in the last few episodes. I suppose the late reveal is to make viewers curious and stay till the end. However, the problem is the storytelling isn’t very compelling to make you feel totally hooked. Boredom sets in with some of the subplots which aren’t really necessary as they don’t move the story forward.
The saving grace is there is a twist towards the end and the story picks up rather quickly then. It is a long wait to get there but it may be worth it for some. Everything is accounted for to give viewers a complete picture by the end of the drama. So, it is a solid story in that sense without too many obvious plot holes. The question is just whether you have the patience to sit through almost 30 episodes before you reach the exciting bits. Personally, I think the drama could have been shorter with faster pacing. With a good story, an improvement in the plot execution could have propelled Tiger And Crane into a more thrilling drama.
Not For Wuxia & Romance Drama Fans
While Tiger And Crane may sound very wuxia-like, the fighting scenes in the drama are not going to impress fans of this genre. This is not Side Story Of Fox Volant with beautifully choreographed moves. This is more like a fantasy drama with demons being a large part of the story. So, while there are fighting scenes, you won’t get any that is worth replaying unlike traditional wuxia dramas like Heaven Sword And Dragon Sabre. There will be CGI elements in the fighting scenes in Tiger And Crane including the final showdown with the villain.
As for the romance, there is little to tell. Hu Zi and Xin Tong are supposed to be a pair but there is noting much happening between them throughout the drama except for some agreement that they will be together once their mission is done and over with. So, don’t expect a full-blown romance and kisses here. You will get none of these.
In fact, some viewers find the friendship between Hu Zi and Xiao Xuan to be more shippable. Well, BL is definitely out of the question for Chinese dramas now and you are not going to get another The Untamed or Word Of Honor kind of bromance. So, any inkling of BL in Tiger And Crane is very, very subtle. Some may feel it while others may not especially with a woman in the picture. Basically, don’t watch this if you are looking for any kind of romance in your drama.
Characters Getting Killed Off (Spoilers Alert!)
One thing that may annoy viewers for this drama is the number of characters that die in all the 36 episodes which kind of reminds me of Snow Eagle Lord. I think some of the deaths are unnecessary. As it is, many of the good guys end up dead together with the villains. More deaths doesn’t mean the story would be more interesting. On the contrary, the deaths don’t mean much when there is little attachment to the characters.
Since this is not an emotionally driven drama, no tears are shed with all the deaths. Even when the main characters die, the scene just feels unrealistic with the time taken for 2 people to bid their goodbyes while the villain is still there to kill all of them. This mars the final battle between the good and the bad guys to me as some of the excitement has been taken away with the slowdown in tempo to accommodate the dying scenes. Moreover, the CGI elements aren’t great at the end when the 2 heroes gained divine powers to fight and defeat the villain.
Acting & Chemistry
This is my second Zhang Ling He drama in less than a month after My Journey To You. If you count his supporting role in Bright Eyes In The Dark, I think I have been seeing his face pretty often. In Tiger And Crane, his role as Xiao Xuan is a cold and impassive one. There is not much expression shown on his face throughout the drama which suits the character’s personality but lacks finesse. However, I think he did well in managing the 2 different characters that he has to play as the variation in temperament is obvious.
Jiang Long as Hu Zi is also ideally casted but his emotional scenes still require a bit more work. He gives me the feeling that he is trying hard to cry but no tears seem to be forthcoming from his eyes. As for Wang Yu Wen, I prefer her in modern dramas. Perhaps she has left a deep impression on viewers after the success of her rom-coms Once We Get Married and The Love You Give Me. She doesn’t have that aura to carry the role of Xin Tong to me as that dominance and toughness of the character are lacking in her portrayal.
The chemistry between Jiang Long and Wang Yu Wen is only average which means there is little to look forward to in terms of their relationship progress in the drama. Maybe romance is hardly the focus of the story and hence, the chemistry is not going to be a major factor in determining the watchability. In fact, I see better chemistry between Jiang Long and Zhang Ling He which is probably why some could detect a BL element between them in the drama.
My Verdict – Okay If You Like Plot Twist
One thing that left an impression on me when I finished watching Tiger And Crane is the plot twist. I find the drama boring up to 30 episodes or so but the plot twist towards the end helped me to forget some of that boredom encountered earlier. Some subplots and long-winded dialogues that are unnecessary contributed to the monotony. Perhaps you might enjoy it better if you are into demons and a bit of mystery. There are some investigative elements in the beginning of the drama but at the same time, there are also a few storylines running concurrently such as the male lead’s origin, the twin primordial spirits, and fighting demons to protect the people.
Therefore, the plot doesn’t have a tight focus and may even seem to be running all over the place at times. You will have to be patient to wait for the story to tie up as the connections are only made clear late in the drama. So, the set up is long and can be a drag. While I don’t regret watching it, there is nothing compelling about it to make it worth a rewatch.
For this Tiger And Crane review, I would rate it 7/10. Don’t pick this to watch for the romance or wuxia. This is more about the fight between humans and demons and the unravelling of past secrets. Its strength lies in the originality of the story with an unexpected plot twist. Not everyone will find it boring like I did as there is a lot going on to evoke your curiosity. It is just that I find it to be a little too slow paced to my liking.
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