The Romance of the Condor Heroes

The Romance of the Condor Heroes is a 2014–15 Chinese television series produced by Yu Zheng and adapted from Jin Yong's novel The Return of the Condor Heroes, with additional material from the preceding novel, The Legend of the Condor Heroes. It stars Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen in the lead roles. The series was first broadcast on Hunan TV from 3 December 2014 to 11 March 2015.[1]

The Romance of the Condor Heroes
Promotional poster
Traditional神鵰俠侶
Simplified神雕侠侣
MandarinShén Diāo Xiá Lǚ
GenreWuxia
Based onThe Return of the Condor Heroes
by Louis Cha
Screenplay byYu Zheng
Directed byLee Wai-chu
Deng Wei'en
Lee Tat-chiu
Creative directorYu Zheng
Presented byPu Shulin
Yu Zheng
StarringChen Xiao
Michelle Chen
ComposerTan Xuan
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes52 (original version)
Production
Executive producersBi Nengjin
Chen Wen
ProducersYu Zheng
Ma Tian
Wan Yang
Yang Lihui
Production locationsHengdian World Studios
Xiangshan Film City
CinematographyYe Yunyuan
Jiang Hongmin
Liang Baoquan
EditorsZheng Weiming
Liu Xiang
Running time45 minutes per episode
Production companiesCathay Media
Yu Zheng Studio
DistributorYang Le
Shen Wei
Release
Original networkHunan TV
Original release3 December 2014 (2014-12-03) –
11 March 2015 (2015-03-11)

Plot

The protagonist, Yang Guo, is the orphaned son of Yang Kang, the antagonist in The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The couple Guo Jing and Huang Rong take Yang Guo under their care for a short period of time before sending him to the Quanzhen Sect on Mount Zhongnan for better guidance in moral values and orthodox martial arts.

In Quanzhen, Yang Guo is often bullied by his fellow students, and discriminated against by his master, Zhao Zhijing. Yang Guo flees from Quanzhen and ventures unknowingly into the nearby Tomb of the Living Dead, where the Ancient Tomb Sect is housed. He is saved by Xiaolongnü, a mysterious maiden of unknown origin, and becomes her apprentice. They live together in the tomb for many years until Yang Guo grows up.

Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü develop romantic feelings for each other, but their romance is forbidden by the prevailing norms of the jianghu (or wulin, the community of martial artists). Throughout the story, their love meets with several trials, such as the misunderstandings that threaten to tear them apart, and their encounter with Gongsun Zhi, whom Xiaolongnü almost marries at one point.

Finally, after their reunion and marriage, Xiaolongnü leaves Yang Guo again, owing to her belief she cannot recover from a fatal poison, and promises to meet him again 16 years later. While Yang Guo is wandering the jianghu alone, he meets several formidable martial artists and a giant condor, and improves his skills tremendously after training from them. His adventures gradually mould him into a courageous hero and the most powerful martial artist of his time.

Yang Guo serves his native land by helping the Han Chinese people of the Song Empire resist invaders from the Mongol Empire. At the end of the novel, he is reunited with Xiaolongnü and they leave to lead the rest of their lives in seclusion after receiving praises and blessings from the wulin.

Cast
  • Chen Xiao as Yang Guo / Yang Kang
  • Michelle Chen as Xiaolongnü
    • Zhang Zimu as Xiaolongnü (young)
  • Zheng Guolin as Guo Jing
  • Yang Mingna as Huang Rong
  • Zhang Xinyu as Li Mochou
  • Mao Xiaotong as Guo Fu
  • Sun Yaoqi as Lu Wushuang
    • Hu Shun'er as Lu Wushuang (young)
  • Zhao Yingzi as Cheng Ying
    • Chai Wei as Cheng Ying (young)
  • Heizi as Jinlun Guoshi
  • Zhang Xueying as Guo Xiang
  • Cui Zhengbang as Guo Polu
  • Zhang Zhehan as Yelü Qi
  • Ma Yingqiao as Yelü Yan
  • Wang Shuang as Wanyan Ping
  • Cao Xinyue as Hong Lingbo
  • Wu Jingjing as Gongsun Lü'e
  • Qiu Xinzhi as Gongsun Zhi
  • Zhang Qian as Qiu Qianchi
  • Li Shipeng as Qiu Qianren / Ci'en
  • Zhang Chao as Wu Dunru
    • Zhang Yijie as Wu Dunru (young)
  • Elvis Han as Wu Xiuwen
    • Fang Yangfei as Wu Xiuwen (young)
  • Zhao Kunpeng as Wu Santong
  • Zhang Yameng as Wu Sanniang
  • Guo Yuhan as Shagu
  • Christopher Lee as Huang Yaoshi
  • Zong Fengyan as Ouyang Feng
  • Yin Xiaotian as Hong Qigong
  • Zhou Dehua as Zhou Botong
  • Ji Chen as Yideng
  • Deng Limin as Ke Zhen'e
  • Shen Baoping as Qiu Chuji
  • Zhang Tianyang as Huodu
  • Daiding as Da'erba
  • Shao Min as Granny Sun
  • Wang Maolei as Zhao Zhijing
  • Song Yang as Zhen Zhibing
  • Meng Fei as Yelü Chucai
  • Kang Lei as Ma Guangzuo
  • Yang Long as Nimoxing
  • Rong Yaozhong as Yinkexi
  • Ruan Weijing as Xiaoxiangzi
  • Yao Yichen as Chen Xuanfeng
  • Hou Jingjian as Feng Mofeng
  • Yi Kun as Lu Guanying
  • Liu Ye as Cheng Yaojia
  • Li Yilin as Zhu Ziliu
  • Zhu Rongrong as Möngke Khan
  • Luo Wenbo as Lin Chaoying's apprentice
  • Wang Yuzheng as Lu Youjiao
  • Sun Xinhong as He Shiwo
  • Jian Renzi as Rou'er
  • Chen Tingjia as Du Xuelian (Ouyang Feng's sister-in-law)
  • Hu Pu as Fan Yiweng
  • Hou Jianglong as Indian Monk
  • Ren Xihong as Shi Da
  • Zhao Haiying as Shi Er
  • Shi Puzhou as Shi San
  • Niu Wenbo as Shi Si
  • Feng Mingjing as Shi Wu
  • Xu Zhanwei as Datougui
  • Zhang Luhua as Shashengui
  • Du Guanru as Taozhaigui
  • Peng Yong as Wuchanggui
  • Yu Xiaochen as Baicaoxian
  • Shi Zhenlong as Renchuzi
  • Lü Yang as Gourou Toutuo
  • Tan Limin as Abbess Shengyin
  • Wen Wen as Xiaocui (Zhao Zhijing's secret lover)
  • Xing Qiqi as Li Zhichang
Special appearances

Soundtrack
The Romance of the Condor Heroes - Original Television Soundtrack (神鵰俠侶电视剧原声音乐大碟)
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Splendid Grandeur (浩瀚)" (Opening theme song)Jason Zhang 
2."You and Me (你我)" (Ending theme song)Chen Xiao & Michelle Chen 
3."Ask the World (问世间)"Chen Xiang & Zhang Xinyu 
4."Sixteen Years"Chen Xiao & Liu Xin 

Reception

Since the series was first announced, it was wrapped up in various controversies. In particular, the casting of Michelle Chen attracted a large outcry by fans of the original novel, who called Chen the "fattest Xiaolongnü (little dragon lady)" that they have ever seen. When the show first premiered on Hunan TV, it was heavily panned for its bad writing, cheaply made actions scenes and a story that completely departs from the novel. Critics call the show "a vulgar mess possessing little artistic value", and "a production that completely destroyed the spirit of the original story".[2][3]

International broadcast
RegionNetworkDatesNotes
Mainland ChinaHunan TV3 December 2014 – 11 March 2015
Anhui TV19 March 2015 – ?
Malaysia8TV24 April – 6 July 2015
SingaporeChannel 829 April – 9 July 2015
Hong KongTVB Chinese Drama25 May – 4 August 2015
TVB HD Jade / J57 January – 22 March 2016
TVB Jade10 November 2016 – 27 January 2017
TaiwanCTV Main Channel27 July – 2 October 2015
CTi Entertainment27 July – 2 October 2015
ELTA TV2 September – 7 October 2015
IndonesiaRCTI6 April 2015 – ?[4]
VietnamVTV3December 2015 – ?
South KoreaCHING6 May 2015 – ?[5]
CambodiaCTV 8 HD10 August 2015 – ?[6]
United StatesKSCI LA182 March 2016 – ?
CanadaTalentvision10 November 2016 – ?
ThailandChannel 74 October 2017 – ?[7]

References
  1. "Yu Zheng's "The Romance of the Condor Heroes" Premieres December 3". JayneStars.
  2. "Yu Zheng's 'Condor Heroes' destroys spirit of original story". Sina.
  3. "The Most Shocking Version of "The Return of the Condor Heroes"". China Radio International.
  4. (in Indonesian) RCTI Official Twitter
  5. (in Korean) 【신조협려】 대만판 ‘건축학개론’ 진연희 출연! 52부작 中드 신조협려 첫 선!
  6. (in Khmer) PPCTV Official Facebook
  7. "มังกรหยก ศึกอภินิหารเจ้าอินทรี THE ROMANCE OF THE CONDOR HEROES เริ่ม 4 ต.ค.60". Channel 7 (in Thai). Retrieved October 22, 2017.
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