Fighter of the Destiny
| Fighter of the Destiny | |
|---|---|
 Official Poster | |
| Also known as | Way of Choices |
| Genre |
Fantasy Adventure Romance Xianxia |
| Based on | Way of Choices by Mao Ni |
| Directed by | Zhong Shujia[1] |
| Starring |
Lu Han Guli Nazha Janice Wu Joseph Zeng |
| Country of origin | China |
| Original language(s) | Standard Chinese |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 52 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Tencent Media, Limon Pictures, Yuewen Media |
| Budget | US$58 million |
| Release | |
| Original network | Hunan TV |
| Original release | 17 April – 1 June 2017 |
Fighter of the Destiny (Chinese: 择天记) is a 2017 Chinese television series adapted from the novel[2] of the same name by Mao Ni. It stars Lu Han, Guli Nazha, Janice Wu and Joseph Zeng. The series aired on Hunan TV from 17 April to 1 June 2017.[3]
Synopsis
In the beginning, there were 3 races; man, demons and beasts. A battle for supremacy happened between man and demons. Emperor Taizhong of Zhou passed on during this war and his wife took over as Empress. With the Astrolobe created by Zhou Dufu, she tried desperately to fight off the invading demonic army. Unfortunately, the race of man almost lost as the demon race managed to engaged the help of a Frost dragon. In order to win the battle, the Empress sacrificed her young son to the Astrolobe in order to draw the energies from the stars to fight the invading army and the dragon. The battle was won and the invading demonic army retreated back to their territory.
A few years after the war, a young boy, Chen Changsheng rescued a young girl, Xu Yourong while plucking medical herbs with his elder brother (who was also adopted). She was running away from assassins with her grandfather who wanted her life. He was made aware that his blood is able to cure all poisons and illnesses. This is at the expenses of his own mortality. He saved her disregarding his own life and their fate was bonded then. Changsheng's master who adopted him, explained that he is unable to live past the age of 20 due to his blood. The only chance resides in the Imperial exam which allows him the opportunity to study in a special residency which is open to only the top student of this exam. Changsheng sets out for the capital to take the exam and thus begins the rise of a hero for Zhou Dynasty.
Cast
Main
| Actor | Character | Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Lu Han | Chen ChangSheng[1] | He was created by the Pope and Taoist Ji suing Yu Ren's blood, as a vessel to bring the downfall of the Divine Empress. His blood possesses the "galaxy power", and can cure all injuries and illnesses. He came out first place in the National Examinations and became the head advisor of Guojiao Academy. He has an arranged marriage with Xu Yourong, who he loves. He has an ill-fated destiny and cannot live past the age of twenty. |
| Guli Nazha | Xu Yourong | A saintess who possesses the blood of the phoenix. She met and fell in love with Chen Changsheng since they were young, after he saved her life. However, she tries to hold her feelings back as her training doesn't allow her to fall in love with anyone except for Qiushan Jun, who has the blood of the dragon and can protect her from getting a backlash. |
| Janice Wu | Bai Luoheng (Luo Luo) | The stubborn princess of the beast clan. She takes Chen Changsheng as her teacher after witnessing his intelligence, and later developed an unrequited love for him. She becomes the new protector of her clan to save Chen Changsheng. |
| Joseph Zeng | Tang Thirty-Six | The sole heir of Tang family and a loyal friend of Chen Changsheng. He fell in love with Mo Yu, whom he constantly bickers with. |
| Xu Lingyue | Mo Yu | The head royal attendant of the Empress, and good friend of Xu Yurong. She bickers and eventually fell in love with Tang Thirty-Six. |
| Johnny Zhang | Qiushan Jun | Senior disciple of Li Shan Sword sect, who possesses the blood of the dragon. He has an unrequited love for Xu Yourong. He later becomes an accomplice of the demon tribe due to the demon seed the demon princess, Nanke planted in him. He dies saving Xu Yourong from the Pope. |
| Gao Hanyu | Xuanyuan Po | A hot-blooded warrior of the Bear tribe who befriends Chen Changsheng. He serves Luo Luo after she saved him from death, and later falls into an unrequited love with her. |
| Lin Siyi | Little Black Dragon (Zhu Sha) | Protector of Chen Changsheng, who gained her trust after providing her with lots of delicious food. Chen Changsheng eventually managed to save her from the cave that she was trapped in. In the end, she often helps and saves Chen Changsheng and his group. |
Supporting
People of Da Zhou
| Actor | Character | Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Chen Shu | Divine Empress | |
| Eric Tsang | Taoist Ji／Shang Xingzhou | Chen Changsheng's teacher and the former head advisor of Guojiao Academy. |
| Eddie Cheung | Pope | One of the five holy reverent who have reached the highest cultivation. He is also Red Robe, the mysterious leader of hidden snake, who plots to the overthrow of the Divine Empress, as well as to destroy both the Demon and Beast tribes. |
| Xue Jianing | The Divine Empress's royal attendant; Mo Yu's mother. | |
| Zhai Tianlin | Zhou Dufu | One of the five holy reverent who have reached the highest cultivation. He is also the murderer behind the death of Little Black Dragon's father. |
| He Zhonghua | Divine Emperor | He once ruled over the Sacred Capital and the Human Tribe before his death. He was married to the Divine Empress and good friends with the Pope. He also father of Chen Changshen. |
| Qu Zheming | Tianhai Ya'er | The Divine Empress's nephew. An arrogant and careless man who abuses his authority. He dislikes Chen Changsheng and constantly tries to ruin his reputation. He has an unrequited love toward Mo Yu. He is killed by the hair pendant used for defense by the Empress. |
| Feng Lijun | Gou Hanshi | Second senior disciple of Li Shan Sword sect. He is loyal and upright. He likes Qi Jian, and looks up to Qiushan Jun. He is presumed dead after being attacked by the Demon Tribe and Quishan Jun. |
| You Jingru | Qi Jian | Disciple of Li Shan sword sect. She is kind-hearted and innocent. After almost being killed by Qiushan Jun and saved by Chen Changsheng, she helps Chen Changsheng's group many times. |
| Quan Peilun | Guan Feibai | Disciple of Li Shan Sword sect, who ranked number four on the Qing Yun Hall. He was killed by a possessed Qiushan Jun. Changsheng was suspected of killing him. |
| Zhou Kaikai | Ning Qiu | |
| Zhang Meiyang | Shu Cui | |
| ?? | Yeshi Huwen | One of the survivors of the Guojiao Academy battle. He was saved by Chen Changsheng but later killed by Nan Ke. |
| Fu Jia | Yu Ren | Chen Changsheng's senior and childhood friend. He is actually an abandoned prince of the human race, and the son of the Divine Emperor and the Divine Empress. |
| Ren Shan | Tianhai Cheng Wu | Tianhai Ya'er's father. He was brainwashed by Red Robes and attempted to assassinate the Divine Empress. He is the Divine Empress's older brother. He was later killed by the Divine Empress after the assassination of the Divine Empress failed. |
| Bai Xiang | Clergy Xin | Lecturer of Li Palace. |
| Liu Kaifei | Zhou Yuren | Zhou Dufu's sister. |
| Yu Liang | Zhuang Huanyu | Senior disciple of Tian Dao Academy, who ranked number eleven on the Qing Yun Hall. He likes Luo Luo and dislikes Chen Changsheng. He is later killed by the Pope while defending Tang Thirty-Six. |
| Zhao Zhiwei | Huo Guang | Disciple of Tian Dao Academy. |
| Ren Hao | Su Moyu | |
| Maggie Shiu | Xun Mei | An extraordinary expert who once ranked number one on the National Examinations 39 years ago. She was killed when she tried to challenge the guardian of Tian Shu Ling. |
| Nan Fulong | Wang Po | The number one expert of Qing Yun Hall; Xun Mei's good friend. He died 39 years ago in the battle between the humans and the Demon tribe. |
| Wang Gang | Tang Qiu | Tang Thirty-Six's father. |
| Zhang Jiading | Tang Hai | Tang Qiu's adopted son and Tang Thirty-Six's step brother. He is secretly aligned with the Demon tribe. |
| Wang Maolei | Zhou Tong | |
| Guo Luoyu | Han Qing | Da Zhou's invincible warrior; Guardian of Tian Shu Ling. Former crown prince of the Demon Kingdom. |
| He Qiang | Xu Taizai | Xu Yurong's grandfather. |
| Tong Tong | Madame Xu | Xu Yurong's mother. |
| Lu Zhong | Xu Weixin | Xu Yurong's father. Invincible warrior of Dong Yu. Later killed by the Pope when he tried to kill the Pope to save his daughter. |
| Yu Yang | Shuang'er | Xu Yurong's attendant. |
| ?? | Nie Ying | A pick-lock expert. |
| Guo Jiaruo | Ji Jin | White Robe's attendant, who live in Tian Shu Ling. |
| Wang Boqing | Xue Xingchuan | |
| Liang Yunshu | Liu Xiaoyun | |
| Wuze Jinxi | Medicine Pot Child | A spirit who evolved from Zhou Dufu's medicine practices. He helps Changsheng and Yourong in the Demon Tribe. |
| Zu Huai | Chen Liuwang |
Demon tribe
| Actor | Character | Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Yao Di | Nanke | The princess of the Demon tribe who obsessively loves Qiushan Jun. |
| Li Chao | Black Robes | Military strategist of the Demon tribe. The younger sister of Zhou Dufu, manipulated by Red Robes. In the end, Black Robes is killed by Emperor Bai. |
| Eddie Cheung | Red Robes | The leader of Fu She. A mysterious man who worked with Black Robes to topple the Divine Empress's reign. |
| Bai Haitao | Xuan Youzi | One of the North Dipper Seven Murder. He imposes himself as part of the Bear clan and was killed by Qiushan Jun. |
| ?? | You Zhu | One of the North Dipper Seven Murder. |
| ?? | Yuan Fei | One of the North Dipper Seven Murder. |
| ?? | Xuan Ming | One of the North Dipper Seven Murder. |
| Ji Li | Lian | One of the North Dipper Seven Murder. |
| Xu Jiawan | No Face | One of the North Dipper Seven Murder. |
| Wu Yajun | Qin Lu | One of the North Dipper Seven Murder. |
Beast clan
| Actor | Character | Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Archie Kao | Jin Yulü | Luo Luo's uncle and caretaker. |
| Wang Ce | White Emperor | Luo Luo's father. |
| Gong Beibi | White Empress | Luo Luo's mother. |
| Gao Yang | Protector of the Beast Clan | |
| Hao Shuai | Xiao De | Invincible general of the Beast Clan. He inherits the White Emperor's magic skills and wishes to marry Luo Luo in order to ascend the throne. |
Soundtrack
| Fighter of the Destiny Original Soundtrack | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
| 1. | "Stars (星辰)" | Jason Zhang | 4:10 |
| 2. | "Fated (注定)" | Bibi Zhou and Bai Jugang | 4:02 |
| 3. | "Book with No Words(无字天书)" | Yisa Yu | |
| 4. | "Love and Wish Goes Against (爱与愿违)" | Zhang Xianzi | |
Reception
The series has been panned by critics for its poor acting performance from the two young leads, and has also been criticized for not adhering closely enough to the original story. Nonetheless, it is popular among many young viewers. The series placed first among audience ratings in its time slot and received over 27 billion views online on all major streaming sites, becoming one of the most watched Chinese television series of all time.[4][5] The success is attributed to the "Lu Han" effect, which refers to the idol's massive influence among his followers.[6][7]
Changes
While the series was originally supposed to be 55 episodes, the number of episodes was later reduced to 52 episodes. This because a major character of the drama had to be cut just prior to the airing of the show, as he was portrayed by Gu Hyun Ho, a Korean bodybuilder and model. This is due to China's ban on South Korean media, as a result of South Korea's agreement to host US missile defense system known as THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system), which China considers a severe threat to its security interests.[8]
International broadcast
References
- 1 2 "Fighter of the Destiny (2017) First Teaser Release". rielbox. December 28, 2016. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
- ↑ "Way of Choices". Gravity Tales. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
- ↑ "《择天记》开播 鹿晗古力娜扎携手改命勇闯三界". ifeng. 17 April 2017.
- ↑ "Fighter of the Destiny reaches 27 billion views across all online platforms". Fighter of The Destiny Weibo. June 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Chinese Dramas with over 10 billion views". VLinkage. December 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Critically panned idol dramas see support from targeted demographic". Sina Corp. May 5, 2017.
- ↑ "New TV drama 'Fighter of the Destiny' looks to take advantage of 'the Lu Han effect'". Sina Corp. April 20, 2017.
- ↑ "The actor who's missing from Fighter of the Destiny". Retrieved 2017-06-15.