"Swordsman" criticised for miscast
12 Feb – It was earlier criticised for its choice of casts and now the long-awaited adaptation of Jin Yong's "The Smiling, Proud Wandered", re-titled "Swordsman" is being judged again for the same reason.
As reported on Popular Asians website, after its debut on 5 February, the Yu Zheng produced drama witnessed the increase of its criticism on the miscast, and among viewers dissatisfaction include;
1. Joe Chen's cast as Dongfang Bubai. Even though the villain was a castrated man who later turned feminine, the choice of the cute Joe Chen did not sit well with the public.
2. Unlike the novel, top producer Yu Zheng has included a love aspect between Linghu Chong (played by Wallace Huo) and Dongfang Bubai - which increased the screen time of Joe Chen over female lead, Ren Yingying (Yuan Shanshan), causing fans to question the drama.
To this, Yu Zheng explained, "We just want to include a dramatic irony in the show. Just when Yue Buqun wants to be the most formidable man in the world, Dongfang Bubai who is already one, seeks love instead."
3. Yuan Shanshan's unsuitable modern look to play Ren Yingying's character. With her thick lips and big eyes, fans of the original version believed that the actress is not appropriate for the beloved role
4. The role of the Blue Phoenix (played by Kelsey Lu) as the comic relief buck-teethed ugly girl who chases man around, unlike the original Blue Phoenix who was supposed to be charming and beautiful.
When asked about the difference of her version with the original, Kelsey explained, "Blue Phoenix was ugly initially. After a face lift, she will become a beauty."
The drama was also criticised for emphasising on the love scenes and melodrama. However, Yu Zheng explained, "There are so many fighting scenes in the series. I want to add some love elements but it'll take up only a quarter of the whole show. So this is still mostly a wuxia drama."
