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Feeling bored, but can't find something good on Netflix? Are you interested in brilliant writing, deep characters and tense drama? Then take a look at five of the most exciting wuxia dramas available right now on Netflix, ranked in no particular order:
The Untamed
Episode count: 50 episodes
Episode length: 45 minutes
Tags: Emotional, Exciting, Mystery
This is a story that begins with the protagonist’s death. Wei Wuxian, the greatest villain in the martial world, is killed by hordes of righteous cultivators. The world is at peace, and everything is well and good. That is, until he’s revived sixteen years later. Back and in a new body, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wang Ji, a close frenemy of his before Wei Wuxian’s death and his current soulmate, must investigate to discover the mastermind behind tragedies both past and present.
Based on “The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation” by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, the story is both a deep mystery in a fantasy setting and an epic love spanning across decades. Due to censorship in China, the romance in “The Untamed” between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji is platonic, but certainly edges as close to the line as it can. They consider each other ‘soulmates’, also sometimes translated as ‘lifelong confidantes’ and their relationship is subtle but deep - much to the appreciation of fans across the world.
Eternal Love
Episode count: 58 episode
Episode length: 45 minutes
Tags: Romantic, Fantastical, Strong Female Lead
Also known as “Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms”, this is the Mulan-esque tale of an immortal fox spirit trying desperately to protect the people she loves. Bai Qian, a nine-tailed fox spirit, is sent to Kunlun Mountain and disguises herself as a boy to study under the God of War. She enjoys her time with her beloved master and older disciple brothers - until betrayal results in her master self-sacrificing to seal a demon lord. As the only disciple to have been taught the sealing spell, Bai Qian spends thousands of years preparing to follow in her master’s footsteps. Things don’t go her way though and she is thrown into the mortal realm with her memories sealed. While living alone in the mountains as a mortal, she saves the Crown Prince of Heaven and the two slowly begin to fall in love.
This series has a lot of names, both inside the story and outside of it. “Eternal Love” also known as “Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms” is based on a novel by author Tang Qi whose english title was translated as “To the Sky Kingdom”. The story is a bit complicated, but the chemistry between the male and female leads is enjoyable to watch. You can’t help but cheer them on.
Ashes of Love
Episode count: 63 episodes
Episode length: 45 minutes
Tags: Exciting, Romantic, Fantastical
“Ashes of Love” tells the story of a naive grape fairy trapped in the Floral Realm and her fateful encounter with a great deity of fire. Jin Mi, who is the child of the late Floral Goddess, was raised inside of a heavily protected barrier her whole life. Her mother, worried that Jin Mi will follow in her footsteps, leaves strict instruction to her vassals to raise Jin Mi quietly. Jin Mi herself, on the other hand, can’t wait to leave the small courtyard she was raised in. A chance encounter with the Fire Deity grants her a chance to escape - and causes unintended ripples across the six realms.
“Ashes of Love” is first and foremost a love triangle. The protagonist, Jin Mi, cannot fall in love due to an elixir her mother gave her and must face the advances of two princes. It’s an interesting story, with some pretty surprising twists, but somewhat slow. With a total of 63 episodes it’s definitely a longer drama and could probably stand to be a few episodes shorter. If you have the patience to sit through it though, “Ashes of Love” is worth the watch.
Handsome Siblings
Episode count: 44 episodes
Episode length: 46 minutes
Tags: Revenge, Exciting, Emotional
A pair of twins separated at birth find their paths crossing as they work to discover the mystery behind their parent’s deaths. Jiang Xiao Yu was raised in the Villain’s Valley to become a force of chaos and evil in the martial world, but grew up with a good heart. Hwa Wu Que, on the other hand, was raised in the Yi Hua Palace by Princess Yao Yue who wanted to take revenge on their father - whom she carried an unrequited love for - to be Jiang Xiao Yu’s enemy. Despite that, they end up becoming friends. Together they fight against their parents' enemies for the stability of the martial world - and their own revenge.
The source material, a novel called “Juedai Shuangjiao” by Gu Long, was actually published in 1966. Since then, it has spawned four movies and eight television series. “Handsome Siblings” is the most recent adaptation of this novel. It really shows, visually, as some of the shots in this drama are amazing.
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