harvestmoon
This review may contain spoilers
DGSD 2021 Review
This new version of Demi Gods and Semi Devils 2021, like the latest version of The Deer and the Cauldron 2020, is very divisive. That's because we are trying to compare past versions to the new versions. I stopped comparing The Deer and the Cauldron 2020 with past versions and I ended up really enjoying the 2020 version. For Demi Gods and Semi Devils 2021, I did the same and enjoyed it.
Was there a need for a new version, no and yes. No because we liked the old versions and thought they were perfect. Yes because this new version might have been better than previous versions if it was done better. When the 2003 version was announced I was like again, but I ended up liking it more than the 1996 version. I didn't like the 2013 all that much, but it was only because of the casting. Kim Ki Bum as Duan Yu and Zhang Meng as Wang Yu Yan were badly miscast. Mao Xiao Tong as Zhong Ling was perfect, very sweet and cute. So new versions being made isn't a bad thing. You might end up liking the new version more than previous versions like I did.
So now that the rant is over, let's move on to my review.
As for the positives of the 2021 version of Demi Gods and Semi Devils, Mu Wan Qing was one of the bright spots. I never really liked past actresses portrayal of the character. Liu Mei Tong had the perfect look and mannerisms to portray Mu Wan Qing. Other positives are the locations and music used for the show. The locations used were nice looking and the music was fitting.
As for the negative, it was the cuts. Like Duan Yu knowing Mu Wan Qing's last name before she even told him. I thought I missed the scene but nope, Duan Yu just miraculously knows it. Another cut that was bad was after the fight between Xu Zhu and Xingxiu Lao Guai. Xu Zhu's master tells him to listen to his orders, but how the hell can he when they were not in the same location. Xu Zhu just magically teleports back to his master.
A second negative is the expanded story for A Zi. Like why? No knock on the actress He Hong Shan as she was very good as A Zi, but the extra story bits for her I could do without.
A third negative was the ending. Zhong Ling and Mu Wan Qing leaving and never coming back was such a big "what the" moment. And Wang Yu Yan almost becoming a nun but not in a matter of seconds was also confusing. If they were going for an original ending at least give us a more satisfying one.
Again look pass the fact that this is yet another version of an old series and you'll enjoy it to some degree. If this is your first version and you didn't like it all that much, I recommend the 1996 HK TVB version or the 2003 version.
Was there a need for a new version, no and yes. No because we liked the old versions and thought they were perfect. Yes because this new version might have been better than previous versions if it was done better. When the 2003 version was announced I was like again, but I ended up liking it more than the 1996 version. I didn't like the 2013 all that much, but it was only because of the casting. Kim Ki Bum as Duan Yu and Zhang Meng as Wang Yu Yan were badly miscast. Mao Xiao Tong as Zhong Ling was perfect, very sweet and cute. So new versions being made isn't a bad thing. You might end up liking the new version more than previous versions like I did.
So now that the rant is over, let's move on to my review.
As for the positives of the 2021 version of Demi Gods and Semi Devils, Mu Wan Qing was one of the bright spots. I never really liked past actresses portrayal of the character. Liu Mei Tong had the perfect look and mannerisms to portray Mu Wan Qing. Other positives are the locations and music used for the show. The locations used were nice looking and the music was fitting.
As for the negative, it was the cuts. Like Duan Yu knowing Mu Wan Qing's last name before she even told him. I thought I missed the scene but nope, Duan Yu just miraculously knows it. Another cut that was bad was after the fight between Xu Zhu and Xingxiu Lao Guai. Xu Zhu's master tells him to listen to his orders, but how the hell can he when they were not in the same location. Xu Zhu just magically teleports back to his master.
A second negative is the expanded story for A Zi. Like why? No knock on the actress He Hong Shan as she was very good as A Zi, but the extra story bits for her I could do without.
A third negative was the ending. Zhong Ling and Mu Wan Qing leaving and never coming back was such a big "what the" moment. And Wang Yu Yan almost becoming a nun but not in a matter of seconds was also confusing. If they were going for an original ending at least give us a more satisfying one.
Again look pass the fact that this is yet another version of an old series and you'll enjoy it to some degree. If this is your first version and you didn't like it all that much, I recommend the 1996 HK TVB version or the 2003 version.
Was this review helpful to you?
