Tiger and Crane – first impressions

Tiger and Crane is one of the dramas that you can watch at a gentler, calmer pace a because it is so comforting. Not to say that it is boring or sedate; it is filled with battles, demons, and blood, but it is typical shonen fare: An unassuming lad is suddenly thrust into a world of heroes. He slowly becomes one while becoming more powerful himself.

This is directed by the director of the big hit Mysterious Lotus Casebook (with a Douban rating of 8.3 no less). But tamper your expectations – it is not as elegant or mature in its storytelling.

However, the tale of brotherhood is one that the director tells well. And if you’re thirsting for more tales like this, you may be able to overlook its many flaws to enjoy the friendship between our four young heroes.

Qi Xiao Xuan (Zhang Ling He)

The production quality

• The acting is not bad but not fantastic either. But I find the actor who plays Hu Zi a very natural actor.
• The CGI is rough, my friend. There are some moments where I wondered what in the world the animator took that day because he must’ve been drunk when he created the scene!
• The sets are average, but there are some fun locations. The costumes and sets have a more realistic vibe and not the too-bright sheen of a lot of xianxia dramas. (Though I’m eternally bothered by Xiao Xuan’s pointy shoulder pads.)
• This may sound funny but I always appreciate it when they make an effort to ensure that the poor villagers are not as polished looking, have dirt on their faces and the streets are muddy. That quality, however is not consistently present throughout the show.

The story

• You may dislike the show if you want xian xia-ish epic romances like Love Before Fairy and Devil. Romance is really not the focus of this show, and the smidgen you see is played for laughs (so far).
• The premise can be a love or hate affair – if you like shonen manga-ish plots, you’ll like it. I personally found it comforting because the story felt so familiar. Emotionally, I’m not as driven or in pain as from other shows. This doesn’t have My Journey to You angst levels. So, it’s “safe” for my heart; I’m not dreading a favourite character being tortured/killed/die a terrible death. This makes it a relaxing watch for me.
• The tone is thrilling/funny/serious at the same time.
• If you like The Blood of Youth you may like this one! Same genre, same “travel around the jianghu” tale. But it is a poor cousin to the well-plotted and tightly crafted Youku drama.

The characters

(From right) Qi Xiao Xuan (Zhang Ling He), Hu Zi (Jiang Long) and Zhao Xin Tong (Wang Yu Wen).

• I like our quartet of demon-busting heroes.
  • Hu Zi (Jiang Long) – snarky orphan with a mysterious past
  • Qi Xiao Xuan (Zhang Ling He) – ice cube “royal sorcerer” with a mysterious past
  • Zhao Xin Tong (Wang Yu Wen)- rebellious demonologist with a mysterious past
  • Wang Yu Qian (Chen You Wei) – cunning scholar with a mysterious past

You get the idea lol. Basically, they all have something to hide. Can this team of misfits overcome their trust issues to form a friendship strong enough to overcome all the problems the world throws at them? Take a wild guess.

• Yan Ran – with a sister like this, who needs enemies?? She’s definitely delicious to hate.
• I like the actress who plays Yi Mei – cold and calculative. You know she’s up to something.

In the end, don’t expect too much from Tiger and Crane. It isn’t groundbreaking, it isn’t a super slick production, but it has lots of heart. If you can overlook its flaws and just accept it for what it is, you’ll have a good time.