Chinese Drama Name: 与凤行
Novel adaptation? Yes
Aired: 3/18/24
Leads: Zhao Li Ying (The Story of Ming Lan) & Lin Geng Xin (Princess Agents)
Synopsis: Zhao Li Ying plays our heroine, a demon warrior lord who is respected and feared by all in the demon realm yet has fallen on hard times thanks to her attempts to escape an unwanted marriage alliance to the heavenly realm. Actor Lin Geng Xin is our hero, the last remaining ancient god but he will meet our heroine as a mere mortal…a sickly one at that. Having fallen in love with our hero during her time in the mortal realm, our heroine knows full well how fleeting a mortal’s life is compared to her own. Fully prepared to bury her heart after the death of her love, our heroine is unaware that she will soon meet our hero again…but as the last remaining ancient god…the one who made the marriage alliance in the first place.
First Impression:
I was already pretty excited for this one since this is a much-anticipated reunion between our two leads after their first drama together, Princess Agents (2017). I got even more excited for the TV show after reading the novel. I had previously assumed the show probably cast Zhao Li Ying and Lin Geng Xin with the hope of capitalizing on their fan base from Princess Agents but after reading the novel, I see these two actors are truly perfect for their roles in Legend of Shen Li.
At ten episodes in, I am quite happy with what the show has done with the story thus far. For the most part, the show has stayed fairly faithful to the novel, only changing minor things here and there that will not affect the general direction of the story. As far as the chemistry between our two leads, as I had hoped, Zhao Li Ying and Lin Geng Xin came through splendidly with their fun yet still sizzling chemistry. It helps that while I wouldn’t call the Legend of ShenLi a “happy and light” story, but the author did do a great job inserting plenty of humor throughout. The scriptwriter is also doing a good job adding a few more light touches of their own that I don’t remember reading in the novel. (ie. the blowing on the leaf in ep. 9). One other thing that I am impressed with the show is that Lin Geng Xin has done a good job portraying the hero’s hilarious personality…you know, the kind of personality that makes you want to either laugh or punch him whenever he speaks. I personally find our hero’s character in the novel a tad bit more naughtier… and more punchable thus that much more funnier, but I feel the show has been able to do the best they can because as all of you book lovers know, there is a certain magic words can do that is difficult to translate into a drama.
All in all, I am loving the show thus far and I think the Legend of ShanLi will be a sure winner…as long as it doesn’t leave the ending half-told like Princess Agent did. By the way, for those of you who either watched or are planning on checking out Princess Agent, be sure to search out the novel ending on this site. I promise, it will brighten your day considerably.
All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com
ps. I am planning to translate a few of my favorite scenes from the novel so be on the lookout for that.
Although I love Lin Geng Xin and Zhao Li Ying as a couple, I was reluctant to watch The Legend of Shen Li because I’m not into Xianxia dramas. I’m SO glad I started it! It definitely made up for the crappy ending of Princess Agents!
I like them as actors but not particularly here because in the novel both Shen Li and Xiang Yun are described as gorgeous. Zhao Liying and Li Geng Xin don’t exactly look like that, especially him with his ordinary looks. There were better candidates, both in beauty and acting skills, but Tencent is interested in money and rankings, so the story tells itself.