November 25, 2024

The Land of Warriors | Open Thread

The Land of Warriors
A man's quest to become the strongest Spirit Master (to protect the rabbit he loves).
Notable Actors/Actresses
Zhou Yi RanTang San
Zhang Yu XiXiao Wu
Chinese Title
斗羅大陸之燃魂戰
Douluo Continent: Burning Soul Battle
Year2024
Episodes: 38

Jump to Remarks | ReviewsRecsComments


Season 1

Douluo Continent


Cast



Zhou Yi Ran:
Tang San
Zhang Yu Xi:
Xiao Wu
Chen Mu Chi:
Dai Mu Bai
Kong Xue Er:
Zhu Zhu Qing
Ding Jia Yi:
Ma Hong Jun
Zhou Jing Bo:
Ning Rong Rong
Cao Zi Shuo:
Ao Si Ka (Oscar)
Li Xiao Ran:
Bi Bi Dong
Shao Bing:
Tang Hao
Chen Yi Han:
Liu Er Long
Xu Jia Qi:
Hu Li Na
Liu Xie Ning:
Qian Ren Xue
Dong Xuan:
Bo Sai Xi (Poseidon)
Zhou Fang:
Tang Yue Hua
Zhang Ming En:
Xue Qing He
Liu Yu Ning:
Hai Shen (Sea God)
Huang Meng Ying:
A Yin
(Tang San's Mother)
Qin Jun Jie:
Tang Hao
(Tang San's Father)
Jing Ci:
Bai Shen Xiang
Zhou Ti Shun:
Xue Beng
Wu Hong:
Ju Dou Luo
Chen Tian Ming:
Guai Dou Luo
Wu He Lun:
Xie Yue
Zhu Jian:
Yan
Wang Ruo Shan:
Zi Zhen Zhu
Xie Zu Wu:
Ning Feng Zhi
Yu Bo:
Qian Dao Liu
Chen Zhi Hui:
Tai Tan
Tan Jian Chang:
Dugu Bo
Wang Jiu Sheng:
Bai He
Ma Wen Zhong:
Emperor Xue Yue
Zhang Fan:
Emperor Xing Luo
Xiu Qing:
Yang Wu Di
Jian Han Biao:
Lou Gao

Sun Jiao Long:
Niu Gao


Romcom/Romance Checklist


How much of the plot is angst/romance?
0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
The ML
Cold–Lukewarm–Warm / Timid / Tsundere / Falls in Love First / Noble Idiot / CEO / General
The FL
Bold / Cute / Cool & Independent / Falls in Love First / Better than ML / Noble Idiot
Describe the Relationship (the tropes):
Annoying Love (F/M) Rivals +++ / Bickering Start / Childhood Connection / Cohabitation / Contract Marriage or Fake Couple / Enemies to Lovers / Hidden Identity / Harem / Love Triangle / Married Couple (Real) / Secretly in Love (F/ML) / School to Adulthood / Star-Crossed Lovers 
Relationship Progress (officially togetherfirst (official) kiss; breakup*):
Ep 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31 / 32 / 33 / 34 / 35 / 36 / 37 / 38
# of CPs (including main CP):
0 / 1 / 2 / 3+
Ending:
Happy / Sad / Open Happy / Open Sad / Bad / Rushed+++


Remarks



[Drama Info]
Not one person from S1. 

The main director is Cheng Feng (Ashes of Love and The Princess and the Werewolf)....

The rest of the crew is interconnected because of Heroes (2024) and/or Eternal Brotherhood.
[Ending] Happy. Everyone is safe and together. Villains have not been defeated.



Reviews



Five (5/5)


Four (4/5)


Three (3/5)


Two (2/5)


One (1/5)

Reviewer: cynlynn
Date: December 2024
Zhou Yi Ran did a lot better than I thought he would, but he lacks the charisma to carry an entire show centered on his character.

I know donghua fans lauded Zhang Yu Xi’s casting. Now that I finished, and I’m just looking at her character’s personality, literally ANYONE can be Xiao Wu. There I said it. It’s such a one-dimensional character: love Tang San with her whole life. That's all there is to her.

Season 1 is lambasted for straying (completely) from the source material. But it has its own merits as a standalone drama: the team dynamics, the teacher-student relationships, character insecurities, skill synergies, the tactical combats, etc. 

Season 2 adheres closely to the original donghua (I hear), but viewership is abysmal. Even fans of the original donghua don’t seem to be tuning in. I guess why watch a live-action that adds no depth to the story or characters when the original exists? As for my S2 experience, the once-engaging characters from Season 1 are reduced to background players or mere cameos. The team dynamic that made the first season a standout is generic here. All the characters are mostly 1-D (not just Xiao Wu). The battles, though visually impressive at times, lack strategy (!!) and emotional weight. They’re hollow CG spectacles. 

Season 3? I don’t see a path forward. It's a catch-22: stray from the source and spark backlash, or stick to it and remain uninspired.





Recommendations


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Burning Flames Denominators of Martial Gods Ever Night

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