The first season of the series The Legend of Heroes is an intimate version of the timeless wuxia world by Jin Yong, which is excellently translated into reality by Tencent. The series starts with an bright image of a martial arts world rediscovered by a new tradition, which combines exciting fight episodes with deep narration. It is essentially a tragic story of two kid best friends, Guo Jing and Yang Kang, whose lives would never be the same again due to the turmoil that is going on around them and the betrayal of their families. The story is set in the environment of the late Song Dynasty with the issues of honor, loyalty, and betrayal and involves the development of a complex story of love, revenge and identity.
The acting is interesting, and the scenes of relentless integrity of Guo Jing and ambivalence of Yang Kang with his more than darker goals are impressive. Their differing trajectories one caused by righteousness and the other by survival lend some depth and tension to the series. The lively nature of Huang Rong character also gives the story some appeal and brings laughter and warmth to the story as well as furthering the plot. The direction is excellent in balancing martial arts choreography and character moments that bring a dynamic viewing experience that both encompasses the splendor of the battles and the smallness of the personal struggles.
The most memorable one was the way the series delved into individual decisions and situations that define the fate. The green cinematography and classic martial arts style create the feeling of a nostalgic reverence, and the contemporary narrative style gives the famous legend a new character. The Legend of Heroes finally made me fascinated by its combination of action, emotion, and cultural wealth which makes it an intriguing reinterpretation of an ancient legend that respects its traditions and opens a new path to the generations of telling martial arts stories.
