The love story of the White Snake and the scholar Xu Xian has been told for generations, becoming one of China's timeless romances. In 2019, the series The Legend of the White Snake (新白娘子传奇) was remade with even more splendor, featuring good-looking leads Ju Jingyi and Yu Menglong. But will it win over old and new fans? This article has the answers.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
The series tells the story of Bai Suzhen (played by Ju Jingyi), a white snake who has cultivated for 1,000 years and can transform into a human. After receiving guidance from Guanyin, she descends to the human world to accumulate merit and hopes to become an immortal soon. Along the way, she meets Xu Xian (played by Yu Menglong), a handsome and kind-hearted scholar. They fall in love and marry happily. However, the main obstacle is Fahai (played by Pei Zitian), a strict monk who sees the snake as a demon and tries to thwart their love. There is also Xiaoqing (played by Xiao Yan), a green snake and close friend who helps, along with other characters that enrich the story.
Acting and Characters
The highlight of this series is the beautiful and handsome leads. Ju Jingyi as Bai Suzhen conveys tenderness, purity, and steadfast love impressively, though some scenes may feel a bit stiff, it suits the character's personality. Yu Menglong as Xu Xian does well, especially in scenes showing love and care. Pei Zitian as Fahai steps out of his usual roles, as this version of Fahai has more depth—not just a rigid monk but with inner conflicts that evoke sympathy. However, Xiaoqing played by Xiao Yan may seem stiff in some emotions and not as outstanding as expected.
Direction, Visuals, and Music
The Legend of the White Snake 2019 version boasts beautiful and spectacular visuals fitting a modern drama. Scenes in both the human world and the immortal realm are meticulously designed with vibrant colors and decent CGI. Though some scenes may look a bit flat, overall it is well done. The soundtrack includes remastered old songs and new ones that fit the atmosphere, especially the opening theme sung by Ju Jingyi herself, which is quite nice. Directed by Zhi Lei and Zheng Weilong, the storytelling is fairly smooth, though some episodes have a slightly slow pace.
Editorial Analysis
Having seen this legend in many versions, The Legend of the White Snake (2019) stands out for trying to adapt to modern times. Fahai's character has deeper psychological issues, the pacing is faster, and the romantic emotions are more pronounced. However, for die-hard fans of the older version, some changes may feel excessive, such as Xiaoqing's reduced role or the addition of seemingly unnecessary new characters, altering the original flavor. Nonetheless, as a romantic fantasy drama, it is enjoyable and suitable for a new generation wanting to know this legend.
Verdict
Overall, The Legend of the White Snake (2019) is an enjoyable drama with beautiful visuals and good performances from the main leads. It suits those who like romantic fantasy and want to know this legend without being too serious. However, if you are a die-hard fan of the older version, you may need to adjust your perspective a bit.
Screenshots
👍 Pros
- +Leads are beautiful and handsome, conveying love emotions well
- +Beautiful and spectacular visuals fitting a high-budget drama
- +Nice soundtrack, especially the opening theme
- +Fahai's character has more depth
👎 Cons
- −Some parts of the script are drawn out, slow pacing
- −CGI in some scenes is not seamless
- −Supporting character Xiaoqing is not outstanding
- −Changes from the original may not please old fans
Top Cast
FAQ
The 2019 version updates the story to be more modern, such as Fahai having inner conflicts, while Xiaoqing's role is reduced, new characters are added, and CGI is more beautiful.
The series has a total of 36 episodes, ending in one season.
Bai Suzhen played by Ju Jingyi, Xu Xian played by Yu Menglong, Fahai played by Pei Zitian, Xiaoqing played by Xiao Yan.
It is available on streaming platforms such as iQIYI, Netflix (in some countries), and other channels depending on licensing.
