''Legend of Fuyao'' () is a 2018 Chinese television series based on the novel ''Empress Fuyao'' () by Tianxia Guiyuan. It stars
Yang Mi
Yang Mi (, born 12 September 1986) is a Chinese actress and singer. She made her acting debut in historical television series '' Tang Ming Huang'', and later received recognition for her leading roles in various television series such as ''Wang Zha ...
and
Ethan Juan
Ethan Juan (, born 8 November 1982) is a Taiwanese actor and model. He rose to prominence with the television series ''Fated to Love You'' (2008). Juan won the Best Actor award at the 47th Golden Horse Awards for his role in '' Monga'' in 2010. ...
. The series aired on
Zhejiang TV
Zhejiang Television (ZJTV, ) is a satellite television channel owned by Zhejiang Radio and Television Group serving Zhejiang Province
Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Rep ...
from June 18 to August 13, 2018.
Synopsis
The story takes place in the universe of Five Kingdoms that is led by the Imperial City of Tianquan. Fuyao was formed from a lotus borne by the Ancient firmament. Adopted as an orphan, she served as a slave for the Xuanyuan sect from the Taiyuan Kingdom. A series of tragedies resulted in a journey across the land to gather the magical artifacts that could lift the curse that blighted her life. Along the way, she met the Crown Prince of Tianquan who was conducting secret missions to quell unrest in the Five Kingdoms. The pair fell in love as they battled the complicated politics and power plays between the different forces. With the help of her loyal companions, Fuyao set out to unravel the heinous plot of the ancient firmament. She discovered her real identity as the "Lotus Princess" and succeeded in destroying the evil forces, bringing peace to the land of Five Kingdoms.
Cast
Main
Supporting
Taiyuan kingdom
Tianquan kingdom
Tiansha kingdom
Xuanji kingdom
Ancient Firmament
Production
Casting and filming
During Linmon Picture's annual television production showcase in February 2017, Yang Mi was announced to be the female lead for upcoming project ''Legend of Fuyao''. ''Fuyao'' was said to contain eastern elements of fantasy, with its plot containing exciting political maneuvers and modern values of relationship.
In June 2017, Ethan Juan was announced to play the male lead. Both Juan and Yang announced their roles through their respective Weibo account. Major supporting cast members were unveiled through picture stills in July 2017.
The series began filming on 27 June 2017 in
Hengdian World Studios
Hengdian World Studios () is a film studio located in Hengdian, a Chinese town in the city of Dongyang, Zhejiang Province. It is one of the largest film studios in the world. The movie studio is operated by the privately owned Hengdian Group
fo ...
,
and wrapped up on November 24, 2017.
Crew
The series is produced by Linmon Pictures and directed by
Magnolia Award-winner Yang Wenjun (''Divorce Lawyers''). Other notable cast members include martial arts choreographer Li Cai (''
Hero
A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''her ...
'', ''
House of Flying Daggers
''House of Flying Daggers'' ( Chinese: 十面埋伏) is a 2004 ''wuxia'' romance film directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Andy Lau, Zhang Ziyi and Takeshi Kaneshiro. Unlike other ''wuxia'' films, it is more of a love story than purely a marti ...
''), art director Shao Changyong (''
Nirvana in Fire
''Nirvana in Fire'' () is a 2015 Chinese historical drama based on Hai Yan's book ''Lang Ya Bang (瑯琊榜)''. It was directed by Kong Sheng and Li Xue, and stars Hu Ge, Liu Tao and Wang Kai as Mei Changsu, Princess Nihuang and Prince Jing. ...
'', ''
The Disguiser
''The Disguiser'' () is a 2015 Chinese spy war television drama based on Zhang Yong's novel, ''Spy War on Shanghai Bund'' (諜戰上海灘). It was produced by Hou Hongliang and directed by Li Xue, and stars Hu Ge, Jin Dong, Liu Mintao and Wang ...
'') and two-time
Golden Horse Award
The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards () is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962 by the Government Information Office of the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan. The awards ceremony is us ...
winner Stanley Cheung as its costume designer.
Location
The series is primarily filmed in Hengdian World Studios as well as Yinchuan. Numerous sets were built in a piece of barren land of up to 60,000 square meters.
Soundtrack
Reception
''Fuyao'' was praised by
CCTV media for transmitting positive values and messages such as persistence, independence and magnanimity; as well as encouraging people to chase after their dreams. However, audience response has not been positive; the series was criticized for having cliché plots and a "Mary Sue" protagonist; as well as very similar storylines to ''
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire''.
Despite divided reviews, the series' popularity remains high domestically with high online views; as well as acclaim from overseas fans. In particular, the series was highly praised in the Daily Pakistan newspaper, with the media outlet calling the show "a wonderful presentation of Chinese characteristics" and praising its cinematography. It gained 14 billion views in 50 days, becoming the most viewed online drama of the summer season.
Ratings
Note: Part of the series is broadcast online on
Tencent Video
Tencent Video (, also called WeTV outside of China) is a Chinese video streaming website owned by Tencent. The website was launched in April 2011, and is one of China's largest online video platforms. As of March 2022, Tencent Video has over 1.2 ...
before airing on
Zhejiang TV
Zhejiang Television (ZJTV, ) is a satellite television channel owned by Zhejiang Radio and Television Group serving Zhejiang Province
Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Rep ...
. VIP members of Tencent are four episodes ahead of non-VIP members and regular television broadcast.
Awards and nominations
References
External links
{{Zhejiang Television Dramas
Chinese fantasy television series
Television shows based on Chinese novels
2018 Chinese television series debuts
Television series by Linmon Pictures
Television series by Tencent Penguin Pictures
2018 Chinese television series endings