Word of Honor (2021)

This is a hidden Gem!

This is such a hidden Gem! I first encountered this drama through YouTube, as it was on one of the recommendation in my dashboard, and I was like "Word of Honour", the name sounded familiar, and then I remembered I've seen this name through an online site where I was looking at MDZS / CQL merchandize haha. So I decided to check out this drama on my end, knowing it came from a BL novel.

This, I would have to say exceeded my expectations because there are scenes indeed, I wonder "How did this drama passed censorship", considering this is the second BL drama I've seen, after Chen Qing Ling (The Untamed), I would have to say both these adaptations are loveable in it's own way, and you can feel the love between the main leads in their respective stories, that while I will say that The Untamed (CQL) touch on the subtle side of their love, although some parts aren't quite subtle about it, 'Word of Honour' actually surpasses that to another level, that you don't see them as 'brothers', but them as 'Soulmates/lovers'. Which yeah, I agree with the fans, "how did this pass censorship", but I am not complaining LOL, since I love the chemistry between the main leads Wen Ke Xing and Zhou Zi Shu.

My favourite character in this story, I got to say Wen Ke Xing, because he's so charismatic to me, I love how he's adorable/sweet/protective when it comes to Zhou Zi Shu (MC), but he is ruthless/shows no mercy to those who deserves it or hurts Zhou Zi Shu. In terms of ending, I am talking about the 'uncensored' version, I am quite amaze with that ending, especially the part when Wen Ke Xing actually said "love you" to Zhou Zi Shu, waaaah *surprise surprise!!* although he couldn't hear him, but waaaaah, that's BOLD!!! Kudos to the production Team here, and the script writer, too bad when it comes to the dubbing and the revising of the drama, they toned it down, but since I watched the final episode uncensored, I got the happy ending, and the confession that I wanted. Although I am sad that Wen Ke Xing hair is white in the end T___T but he is now an immortal like Zhou Zi Shu, and we saw how happy both of them were, so I am content. In terms of ending, in the adaptation side of things, I love what I was given in Word of Honour (where I see them side by side happily like this) better than CQL, because the moment when Lan Zhan suggested to walk separate paths, he's sadly, no longer the canon Lan Zhan to me, because Canon Lan Zhan wouldn't suggest that, ever, I still wish that scene was done differently in CQL, and it always hurts me to go back and watch that scene since it was a slap every time, when I watch it urgggghhh.

I am sad when Gu Xiang and Wei Ning died T___T and such tragic deaths too!!!! I HATE that character (not spoiling) who killed them URGH!!! But anyways, I personally really love, enjoyed this drama, I love the OST's in this drama too, and I love Wen Ke Xing and Zhou Zi Shu chemistry!! Wen Ke Xing is such a flirt hahahaha, but he's only like that when it comes to Zhou Zi Shu so he's forgiven XDD I am so tempted to read the novel now that I finished the drama, stayed up late every night just to marathon this on my end!!

So do I recommend this drama? Hell yes!!! If you are open for BL, you can watch it!! Although they are considered 'Bromance', but to me, they are a couple, with how they are portrayed that way!! And I am glad!! Kudos to the script writer and production team, and yes, the actors too!! I love this drama on my end and will definitely rewatch this again! <3

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Bordering on a Masterpiece

I started this drama immediately after finishing watching The Untamed, which many viewers commented was a masterpiece. However, after watching Word of Honor, between the two, it is the true masterpiece. Oftentimes when it comes to Chinese dramas, I find them to be far too long with too many filler episodes or repeats of similar events; it gets tedious and boring. This drama is exceedingly rare in that I wouldn't have minded in the slightest if it was slightly longer. The last five or so episodes seemed rushed and the ending felt abrupt, not to mention depressing. With that, be sure to watch Episode 37 (its not on Netflix if that's where you're watching) as it gives a far more positive conclusion. Overall though, I didn't feel like there were really any completely pointless episodes. There were a few scenes were the dialogue dragged a bit, but not horribly so.

The story is solid. It flows well and really only leaves one unanswered question that immediately comes to mind, which is pretty good all things considered. The dialogue overall feels realistic and not forced or awkward other than at a few points. The story telling with flashbacks also worked well I felt. My only complaint in that regard was how many characters or younger versions of characters were introduced at once. It got a little confusing trying to pair names with faces and what their importance was. I also liked that the villains all got the endings that they deserved. Dramas like to have these absolutely abhorrent characters who commit unspeakable crimes and then they get off easy, either being allowed to commit suicide or dying from an illness or something equally lame. That did not happen here which I liked. The characters are nuanced and flawed and realistic, or as realistic as they can be. No character is perfect, they all have their faults with some realizing those faults and striving to overcome them, others who realize those faults and don't care, and still others who are completely oblivious. There's a good mix. Another aspect I really appreciated is that the villain wasn't immediately given away. I hate when dramas have a character smirking evilly in the background and then act like its a big shock when its confirmed. Here I was unsure of who was the true villain for a decent while. I had my ideas, but they did such a good job of keeping me on my toes and second guessing myself. I really enjoyed that.

The acting was fantastic. Again, this drama is a rarity in that I didn't feel that any one actor was truly lacking. The chemistry between Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu was flawless and their relationship was lovely to watch develop. As a side note, I was both surprised but also enjoyed their obvious romance. In The Untamed, the two lead's relationship is only hinted at, I assumed due to Chinese censorship, but in Word of Honor there was absolutely no denying that those two were a couple. Anyway, I also really loved the chemistry between Kexing, Zishu, and Chengling. Their relationship grew so much over the course of the drama and their little family was just perfect. I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed everyone's performance, but I'll leave it there.

Costuming as with most Chinese dramas was gorgeous. I appreciated the way their costumes reflected which face they were showing to the world. For example, Wen Kexing tended to wear more pastel colors when in the human world with Zhou Zishu and red when acting as ghost chief. Scorpion King wore black and leather when acting as Scorpion King but lighter colored, flowing robes when he was acting as the dutiful son. I also liked that Gu Xiang's clothing was made to be practical but also flattering. My favorite costume of hers is what amounts to a short layered dress with pants underneath; practical and feminine. The wigs, as always, looked terribly fake from certain angles, but I've gotten to a point where I'm not particularly fazed by that anymore since its so common.

The OST was gorgeous, I loved both the opening and closing songs and everything in between. The music was woven in flawlessly and really helped to enhance scenes and set the mood.

I will conclude by simply saying that this a very strong, well done drama and I highly, highly recommend watching it. It is one that I will absolutely re-watch in the future.

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It is a relatively good Chinese Wuxia film in recent years, and the scene design is very good.

The production of this TV series is very good, lines, costumes are very good, the favorite is the actor Zhang Zhehan's acting, very delicate, like Zhou Zishu from ancient times, gentle and powerful. Whether he is a dirty beggar or a clean and beautiful Zhou Zishu after changing his face, he is very charming and exudes a temperament that people can't stop. If there is such a friend in life how perfect: he can protect himself with superb martial arts, and he has served as an official in the court, understands the darkness in the officialdom, and abandons all the shackles, he can live very unrestrained, for the people who want to save, he does not accept at first, and then he is convinced step by step. Zhang Zhehan gives a rich performance, which has different levels in different periods, and brings the audience into the play. It's very attractive. I'm looking forward to his next work.

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A refreshing watch

Word of Honor is a breath of fresh air within the highly saturated Chinese drama market. I can finally watch a drama where most of the cast's intelligence is intact, and most of the plot makes sense. A lot of people think that the first few episodes are boring. I beg to disagree. The 1st episode is extremely important to the plot as a whole; if you skip the 1st episode, you might not be able to understand the story. If you are expecting a highly grandiose story or plotline, then I don't think this is for you. The Wuxia elements and storytelling is average, but it makes sense. I have watched many Chinese dramas, and you would be surprised at how many of them fail to even tell a basic story. I was actually surprised at how many details and foreshadowing the screenwriter put into the dialogues when watching it for a second time. The characters' interactions are also interesting, and the growth/change is very clear. The side characters have their purpose and all of them have interesting plotlines.

Honestly, this drama is nothing extraordinary compared to the hundreds of other dramas in mydramalist. Still, it stands out within the Chinese drama market because of its complete storyline, good acting, and just the overall dedication to the drama. When the market is saturated with terrible plotlines, terrible actors, and thoughtless production crews, SHL's staff and production crew surprised me at how far they were willing to go for the audiences. They re-edited scenes in different episodes due to fans' requests, and they got the voice actor to redub episode 14. They edited out an ost and then re-edited it in again for the fans. They did their very best with a 4.3 million budget, the lowest BL budget this year. They actually had to cut out 9 episodes by the end because they ran out of funds. The ending after ep 30 was rushed and the plot started going off the rails during ep 31-32. Was a pity? Yes. Could they have done better? Yes. But I was not angry at the outcome of this drama. Overall, this was a drama that has exceeded my expectations.

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A ghost never looked this good - Wen KeXing is bae❤️

WoH stole my heart and is my favorite cdrama

What I love most abt WoH is how both leads are damaged people, I mean, they are good and kind, but for their own reasons they were evil. For someone or many they represent hell, so imperfect and at the same time so perfect for each other - I loved them. There are so many details and hidden messages in the acting and actions that I indulged myself in how clever and beautiful it was.


✨️Story/Production

The water from the Five Lakes gather around the world
Who else deserves supremacy in the martial arts world?
The iridescent clouds are scattered and the glaze is shattered
Who will cry with the Ghosts on Mount Qingya?
Children of Yue, Nursery rhymes that doesn’t rhyme as gossip

WoH is based on the novel Faraway Wanderers and although some things were changed, the adaptation is very well done. The beginning of the story, when the leads are getting to know each other and interact like cat and mouse is so good, one of the best starts for a relationship, be it romantic or friendship, I've ever seen!
We follow the story of Zou ZiShu ZZS, a man with his days numbered due to his past but with incredible martial skills and sense of justice, who happens to save a noble orphan and get involved with Wen KeXing WKX, a man of great wit. WKX is a ghost in disguise trying to seek revenge for his family and destroy the world/society they live in. They become friends, they care for each other and together take care and ‘adopt’ the boy. They become a family in no time. Tragedy befalls them many times, like when very dear characters die (I write this and get teary eyed) or a sacrifice must be made to save his soulmate.
Towards the end some things do feel rushed and some plots like the Window of Heaven x Prince Jin and even the Scorpion sect x Glazed armor feel a bit incomplete, but still everything goes well.
The story is addictive and so elegantly told that I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. The word choices and lines were carefully made and gave the flirty ZZS and WKX’s relationship a very unique poetic tone. It was clear how much WKX was interested in ZZS, and it was great to see ZZS through his passionate eyes. I’m still amazed by all the poem references and details they put in the lines. Perfection! Some scenes are among my favorites of all time, such as WKX’s sacrifice in the end to save ZZS when they both say ‘Ai ni’. Fascinating!
Even with a low budget the script was so good and the interactions between Zhou ZiShou and Wen KeXing were so good it makes my heart overflow with love, like watching true soulmates.


✨️Favorite quotes

WKX: “Who knew that I would spend my entire life living in the wrong moment?" This line is one of the many that touched my heart, because I can relate to it. Hopefully now in my life I’m living the right moment.

ZZS: “Lao Wen, I always knew what you wanted. I had hoped you'd change. Who would have thought it would be me who would ultimately change?” I love this quote too, because it shows how well ZZS read WKX.


✨️Acting/Cast

The casting work in this series is a gift, every single character had great presence and played their part very well. I loved Gong Jun from the moment I heard his beautiful voice, it was like he put me under a spell. His WKX was always so elegant and poised, even when he said the harshest things. His eyes were so expressive no words were necessary to know exactly what he was thinking. Kudos.
Zhang Zhehan is also a monster, his work here was great, his character was troubled, kind and he spoke with his eyes even in the silence; Gu Xian and Weining who also stole my heart, they were like rays of warm sunshine and Chenliang who was such a cutie.


❤️✨️Wen KeXing✨️❤️

Wen KeXing's chaotic good persona and story really moved me here. He has bewitched me. I loved how he brought chaos to the martial world, using the poem and his intelligence. I love his brains! Of course the deaths saddened me, but at the same time that made me root for his revenge, made me curious about who he was, made me question his kindness and most of all made me cry when he cried. He is so smart and powerful. From the characterization, with the fan to the color red that I love and his make up - I adored him. His reasoning was always a delight to watch. Flawed characters like WKX are the reason why I love reading and watching series so much, they are never boring. Although they always plot something, they often suffer the most… My heart breaks for his losses.


✨️Music

I love the main song sung by the leads, it is very romantic and sad at the same time.


✨️Rewatch value

This series has one of the highest values for me, there are so many details and the story is so rich with top notch acting that a second watch is more than advisable, it is a must. If you are asking yourself if you should watch this, don't hesitate. I came here to share a little bit of my love. I am sad by the reality of the actors and scandals, and I will support them as much as I can. If I could I would rate it a 1000.

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Soulmates done right with its astounding storytelling performances

Bestowed by the beauty of this extraordinary show: The prosperous production quality, creativity of the story, outstanding acting performances, realness of props and settings, admirably blend of genres, unpredicted plot twists, attachment to the characters, powerful execution of fight scenes, and the effective conveyance of impact to the audience. This, without doubt, is one of the best Chinese series I’ve ever seen.

Martial Arts, as the source of power and skills of the individuals in this story, is cleverly written and gracefully fits well into the traditional set-up along with its magical-fantasy clashes of sects and clans. The several factions that they introduced were my favorite thing about this. It began to click my interest the moment they started bringing those different groups of tribes such as the Ten Devils of the Ghost Valley, Five Lakes Alliance, Four Scorpions, Window of Heaven, Four Seasons Manor, Four Sages of Anji, Beggar Gangs, and the list goes on. They also gave them a unique naming with a meaning connected to either their beliefs or their contribution to the world.

The chemistry between the main leads is powerful and entertaining. It’s an inventive pairing as both of them are just like the two sides of the same coin; Zhou Zi Shu, the leader of the prominent Window of Heaven, and Wen Ke Xing the leader of the hated wicked Ghosts. Their personalities also differ, with one being all flirty and vengeful while the other one is a man of virtue who seeks only the goodness in humanity.

Aside from them, the rest of the cast also left memorable roles that feel like they're in one big family. Chen Ling is the couple’s son and acts as the bridge of reconciliation whenever the two need one. Ah Xiang is the daughter who is showering with a ray of sunshine around her. Wei Ning is their son-in-law who is very loyal to the one he loves. Ye Bai Yi is WKX’s mother-in-law who behaves like he hates the existence of him but in fact, he loves teasing him. Liu Qian Qiao and Xi Sang Gui are the trusted and ever-supportive aunts. And the rest of the cast are either their ally or enemy. The only antagonist from the show that I feel more sympathy for than hatred, is the Scorpion King who only wanted to feel genuinely appreciated by his foster father. It’s also a good bonus that he is cute despite having a dark characterization.

Personally, the Longyuan Cabinet Journey is my top pick of episodes from the show. The number of traps, mysteries, and the uses of mechanical arts was stunning. It somehow reminds me of Percy Jackson’s Battle in the Labyrinth, in which they found out that the minor-god Pan, is already dying while secluded inside. The same scenario was with the head of the Longyuan Cabinet who was brutally injured by his son. This is also the time when I hold a firm grip on the whole plot and past of the stories. There’s nothing more satisfying when you finally understand what’s going on. The feeling is amazing to be driven by the creative flow of the story.

The more I’ve watched the Word of Honor, the more I can feel the similarities it has to The Untamed, which I considered to be the best traditional-fantasy storytelling. Both shares the same genre, a bromance in drama (yet it doesn’t feel like a bromance at all since it is pretty obvious that they’re showcasing more than that) but a BL in the novel, a pilot episode that left you in awe of confusion, has an antagonist that can pass as the greatest pretender (Nie Huisang ranks first then followed by Zhao Jing), both most love hetero-couple died, and the two dramas explicit a rarity in providing top-class stories.

For the ending of Word of Honor, one should watch the special/epilogue episode to fully satisfy themselves by getting a happy ending since the last episode (36) looks like one of them or worst both of them died in the end. Nevertheless, it is pretty clear that they once again set the standard high for the next series you’ve ever planned to watch. I loved the overall impression that this series has given me. They’re indeed soulmates who are destined to survive all the odds in life. In addition to the story, it will never be as good as it is without the pleasing soundtracks that deliver clarity of emotion from each character.

Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Ke Xing acquired their happiness in the end and I’m grateful for it. Soulmates increase one’s hope to live longer and to be able to feel the warmth of affection from the other person for a long period. May we all hopefully lead to this kind of gratifying part of life in the future. Believe in the power of bliss that honors our whole existence in life, along with that one word, love.

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A second-rate drama

This show is below average in techincal department, the music was just “ok”, it lacks real and believable chemistry between the leads and the script is sloppy and most of the time boring and incosistent. A friend of mine told me they added all the past connection to the two leads and it’s such an abused and idiotic thing to do in an already confused plot. I didn’t pay to watch a drama in “majkang” style.

The actors were way more incapable than most of the people say. If GOOD acting is all about waving your fan, reciting poems and eye rolls, well they did a good job… but acting is conveying emotions and noone in the cast did it fully. Their caricatural acting was anticlimatic because having a handsome face doesn’t mean you’re a good actor. Yeah, I’m talking about Gong Jun and Li Dai Kun: they’re extremely good looking guys but their performance weren’t THAT good or memorable.
In particular Zhang Zhe Han did an awful job portraying Zhou Zishu: he looks absent -minded most of the time or clearly changes his expression on demand. His worst performance was during the torture scene: he reminded me of “L'absinthe” by Edgar Degas. MAN, THEY’RE TORTURING YOU and you look like me when I have to wake up at 2 a.m. to work.
The chemistry between Wen Ke Xing and Zhou Zishu has no basis: the credibility of their relationship is based on words rather than gestures and on skinship instead of real feelings. There’s no deep comunication or romantic involvement.

It’s also misleading to let people think Tian Ya Ke is similar in ANY WAY to Chen Qing Ling.
The Untamed is an absolute masterpiece in acting, character development, script and music while Word of honor is cringey in acting, incoherent in character development, has a boring and incomprehensible script and music is forgettable.
Even the action sequences in Word of honor have always the same scheme, are boring and they last for few minutes while in The untamed we see many battle scenes that are convincing and Yibo's fights are one of the sexiest things on this planet. He's a marvelous vision in those moments.
It’s bothering that people constantly compares the two couples because Wei Wu Xian and Lan Wang Ji have one of the most beautiful, romantic, deep, meaningful, balanced relationship I’ve ever seen on screen, a connection based not only on words but also on non verbal communication, stares, caring gestures.
Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu on the other hand are a roller coaster of incomprehensions, arguments like five year old children who are unable to communicate.
The changes they did in The untamed’s adaptation were for the better while in Word of honor they unbalanced the relationship between Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu for fanservice sake.
The only similarity between the two series is the horryfing cg.

I decided to post my thoughts about the series because I’m sick of Word of honor community that brainwash people to verify their account only to rate this series 10/10, and I’m even more upset that people who tries to call out the flaws of this series are silenced and bullied by the same three or four fake accounts.
Please, everyone should be free to express their opinion without getting bullied.

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Word of Honor: What is Your Pledge?

I’ve never anticipated this drama would lead me to a new fandom (I’m pointing to Gong Jun, he just appeared and entered my life because of this). Otherwise, how could I bear to finish it not in three days but one month. I literally can’t endure the feeling of ending it for I will be nostalgic and will be thinking forever of the characters especially those who have moved my heart. However, there is always a thing that needs conclusion, which would remind an ending for the sake of completion, or whatever goal one wishes to achieve. Thanks I was able to overcome the emotion ruling over this thoughts for if not, I guess I will be taking months or forever to finish this drama.

While writing this, I am listening to “Ask Heaven” which was sung by Liu Yuning and one of the drama’s official sound track. The emotions exist and I feel it guides me with these words of melodrama. Firstly, I would like to talk about the part of the drama that “somewhat” has confused me. After that I will be elaborating the particular aspects which are very surprising to someone with limited knowledge like me. The characters are fairly well-written but my dilemma on the initial parts suddenly appears but luckily it fades knowing I will abandon that kind of state through the next episodes. I’m referring to the presentation of characters. There are a lot of characters and they were mostly introduced on those first episodes giving me a hard time remembering them or it just my memory. I have watched dramas which also involved sects and the martial arts universe but I never get the “puzzled feeling” towards the characters, their names, roles, and the sect they belong. However, this did not affect the overall impact of the drama rather it makes it more notable since each single character in the story plays a significant role on the process of the plot.

The things I value within the drama vary and it does not focus on small elements which most of the professional people engage in an entertainment commentaries would mention. I am a person who sees the big picture instead of the small one, so I will be only mentioning the qualities of Word of Honor that have startled my little experience such as the plot itself, the production, and the entangled actors/actresses.

The plot is quite distinctive. It gives us with the pre-halloween vibes with the ghosts theme mix with the martial arts world affairs. In Chinese ancient times and literature, the stories about phantoms or any magical creature or persona are widely recognized and I’m so glad this concept was applied in the novel and one of the interesting factors of the play. Since it is intertwined with the spooks, I can tell you it is not scary. As a replacement, you will fall in love with their chief who is Wen Kexing (insert the way he speak his name). The whole play is a source of moral lessons as to decide based on your principles. As every episode develops, you will find yourself attached to the story therefore at the very beginning you must stick yourself and never drop it.

The production team is creative and knowledgeable enough to pursue this genre even though it receives many prevailing restrictions. When one looks on its quality, it does not only excel on the visual part, but also on the script (I love how the scriptwriter exerted a lot of effort in order to make the play less straightforward, because if it is, it would lead to some peak of the limitations which is unacceptable to others). Hence, it hides the real meaning and gives us the message which is more meaningful and sometimes can be hilariously clever. I remember a specific scene wherein A’xu told Wen Ke Xing that those with thin lips are not loyal and ungrateful (like where did that sort of perspective came from, it is so sharp but cute). I cried a lot of laughs for that, but I know this is not the only scene out of many that illustrates the surface personality of the two leads. And if you are a kind of a whimsical person, this play may suit your taste with many ancient poems present in their dialogues. I feel like sinking on its beautiful and deep connotations. Moreover, the costumes are made brilliantly. Everything in the drama has its own concealed symbolism and even on clothes, it can be perceived. Although, it is a low-budget adaptation not just like those high scales dramas, it proves that quality stands over quantity. It is well-planned and each individual under the crew has carefully obliged to their job resulting to this masterpiece.

Most actors in this drama are not very popular for it is also a not so high-budgeted creation, then who would recruit a famous and expensive actor, right? Still, thanks because it offered them the chance to prove their self (but it is really a sad reality that some people just can’t accept one’s success and instead ruin their hard earned reputation). I have watched a couple of Zhang Zhehan’s work and it is no doubt that he is such a hardworking man. Therefore, I have a good impression on him. This play is the top among of his works showing a side of him which is reserved but there is a good-tempered and humorous soul covered on the other half of his portrayal. The person that no one anticipated to be so well and to be so super fit for the role is Gong Jun. The director or the production team never made a mistake in picking him as one of the main lead. The seducing personality he gives into a bad-ass valley chief means his flexibility as an actor. Honestly, I don’t really support him before the Word of Honor thinking he is one of those ordinary actors and I was wrong, I am exceedingly incorrect for that idea. Zhou Ye on the other hand transforms into a jovial and loyal character which is truly contradictory from the Better Days. Ma Wenyuan’s shy temperament in the drama makes it more adorable to ship him together with Ye’s role. The other supporting characters also have their stories to tell causing the play to flow in different ways and also conveying us multifarious wisdoms.

For me, it is more than just a BL drama as what its label categorizes. You can feel the love that is worth of life and death sacrifices, the loyalty that is beyond comparison and the friendship that lasts eternally. Even the villains would touch your empathy and at the same time can create a conclusion into your mind that all the bad things you do will not end up in good. The filial piety is also being highlighted. Overall, it is a worthy drama for your time and expenses. At the end, you will realize what does its title, which is “Word of Honor” implies.

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Good Enough

Chinese Drama 'Word of Honor' was interesting at first, quickly, however, changed sides.

The drama starts strong, with the introduction to the world, the mystery in hand, the political powers as well as the characters. The mystery element was pretty intriguing and even the villains seemed twisty and shady. However, after the first part, the drama took a more domestic turn, opting for a slice of life focus, forgetting about the matter in hand, adding a few specs of the characters' past here and there and pretty much letting them play little house on the prairie for a big chank of time. The villains were toned down too, and the main one was simply too tamed to be that horrific bad guy who will keep things interesting. The ending, finally, was rushed, but emotional, especially since the second couple was the main source of entertainment in the second half.

So, overall, 5.5 out of 10.

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"Not all those who wander are lost."

I have to warn, despite my rating, I've also covered the parts that I didn't find appealing and gave the reason for my score in detail.

It is no surprise that everybody expected Word of Honor to flop, particularly when it was a Youku production. 2018's Guardian was Priest's first censored adaptation under them that drew in a huge crowd of fans and rocketed the actors to fame, but made major changes and failed to capture the beauty of the novel. However, it gave other cleverer Video Platforms like Tencent the strength to go for more popular adaptations, starting the domino effect, particularly after The Untamed's (2019) success. After Legend of Fei, fans gave up all hope, coming to the conclusion that Priest would never get a decent adaptation. Word of Honor is the first drama I've completed, based on a Priest Novel, Tian Ya Ke (Faraway Wanderers). This jumble of thoughts is coming from a person who began reading the novel while waiting for new episodes.

A short introduction common for both the book and drama:

"The founder of a deadly assasin organization takes extreme measures to leave his past life behind, choosing death as a form of his redemption. He spends his days disguised as a beggar, wandering and drinking his last days away to glory. However, fate has more in store for him and he soon finds himself tasked with protecting the last remaining survivor of a prominent sect who was involved in a conspiracy regarding a famed armory that lead to the death of many. Much to his displeasure, he is closely followed by a suspicious man and his maid, who may not be whom he claims to be."

+++ No good actor can save a drama if it has a bad script. And the Script is one of the strongest fields in Word of Honor. The scriptwriter Xiao Chu, who is a fan of Priest did an excellent job, bringing the characters and story to life. Her love and respect for the source material can be seen during several instances in the story. Many events have been jumbled up for TV, but any reader will be quickly able to recognize several scenes scattered all over. The changes for the drama almost make the novel lacklustre in comparison. Expanding on various sects, their backstories and Zhou Zi Shu's past, we are led on a thrilling edge of your seat storyline that left me craving the next episodes. (Episode one in particular will always remain one of my favorites. Unlike the book, it showed the human side of Zhou Zi Shu in detail.)
The basic plot is the same as in most of the wuxia dramas. What makes the story excellent for me is the perfect balance between the episodes, the interesting storyline with multiple characters, each with their own motives. No episode focused 100% on the leads and it was a pleasant surprise. It increased the anticipation each week and the thrill I experienced can't be put into words. I rewatched all the episodes while waiting for the others. Its clearly visible that even with the limit of 36 episodes, and a meagre budget, the production team toiled to portray what they loved in the best way possible, something that can put big budget IP dramas to shame. I could ask for no more from them for that.
Every character has a task or a promise to keep. This is the very thing that moves the plot forward. May it be Wen Ke Xing's facade hiding his true plan or Zhou Zi Shu's word of honor. Even Gu Xiang, who starts out as a servant who experiences life outside the Ghost Valley for the first time, begins to voice her own thoughts, opinions and feels for others. Cheng Ling, poor boy, ends up hanging onto Zi Shu and Lao Wen, the only people he could trust. Their tragic pasts, brotherhood and regrets are slowly revealed as the episodes move by, keeping us glued to the screen with baited breaths.

+++ The Cast, both young and old, played their roles really well. Both Zhang Zhe Han and Gong Jun were popular for their works, but definitely not huge traffic makers that can bring in enough hype. I was familiar with Gong Jun's works previously. It was nice seeing him do a different, more animated role for a change, one that could actually showcase his range. From switching from funny mode to murder within seconds, going all out psycho, he did not disappoint. The flirty Wen Ke Xing may be asking a simple question to Ah-Xu, but we can clearly see that he is being very subtle about it. He shamelessly follows him around, but never forgets his hatred and anger.

"Three days later, I will come to get my goods... or burn your shop."
(Wen Ke Xing, EP6)

His moments of vulnerability, acceptance of his doomed path and some of the plans he concocted made him a very anti-hero character. Especially in the first half of the drama, where we get to see past his innocent mask.

"I wanted to wander the world till I die. But, it seems like God has other plans for my destiny."
(Zhou Zi Shu - EP11)

The title of my review is from a poem about Aragorn written by Gandalf from Lord of the Rings. In a twisted way, Zhou Zi Shu is a wanderer, but he has never forgotten who he was. While still in disguise, he was described as someone who travels a long way to keep his promises - a Ranger. (By both Cheng Ling and Lao Wen.)
(Many beautiful quotes from LOTR can be used to describe several feelings in WOH.)

It was my first time seeing Zhang Zhe Han in a full on main character role as I had only seen clips before and in Nirvana in Fire. He completely blew my mind in WoH.
Starting from his painful past in the first episode, getting disguised as a pathetic beggar (a hilarious transformation that you shouldn't miss) to putting up with Wen Ke Xing's flirting and finally accepting his fate, he portrayed the emotions with such depth that we audience can't help but sympathize and fall for the lost man who had been shattered by life's harsh experiences. I've seen several comments poking at his acting skills right from the start. But, I'll defend him at all costs for this role. Zhou Zi Shu in the book is 80% of the time just moving along with the flow, easily irritated with Cheng Ling, and doesn't respond much to emotions. Had they got any other inexperienced actor for this role, it would have been a total disaster. It's sad to see that no one notices the slight emotions skittering across his face. His improvisations on set and the love he gave to Zhou Zi Shu can be easily seen in the way he brought him to life.

I'd seen Zhou Ye in Better Days, and though it appears as if she is annoying, the character Gu Xiang is very impulsive, and I personally think she did a good job. Another surprise was Xie Wang played by Li Daikun.
Ye Bai Yi was one unsuspecting character whom I absolutely adore. His constant bickering and general disdain for the ongoings on the jianghu and his love for food all hide his true nature and regret. I wished that he had more screen time. And his scenes and voice over in the last few episodes were really emotional.

+++ Bear with me if you are reading this cause I suck at descriptions of feelings.
Right from the end of the first episode, sparks begin to fly and the drama was subtle in its portrayal, using poetry and idioms from various forms of Chinese literature to convey the emotions. This in turn, had me and fellow viewers scrambling for hours through tumblr for translations and meanings that give the story a new depth. I badly wished that I'd learnt Mandarin cause there were several lines that no translation could do justice. A particular phrase in EP17 had such depth that no English subtitle can capture its hidden beauty. We see their relationships grow from skirting around each other to final acceptance. And with this comes the hint of fear that they are not good enough for the ones they cherish. The inner struggles that the characters undergo, the mature way they deal with their troubles and the lengths they go to protect them would make anyone root for their happiness. While Lao Wen and Cao Wei Ning are almost blatantly open about their feelings, both Gu Xiang and Ah' Xu struggle with their internal dilemmas. One pair, a stark contrast from the other, pure and innocent whereas the other sought redemption through each other.

The brotherhood between Shen Shen, Gao Chong and his disciples; the relationship between Cheng Ling and Ah' Xu + Gu Xiang and Lao Wen were heartwarming. Even the little known Qian Qiao story arc was something I found really interesting. It showed several sides of the characters and gave the story a realistic vibe.

++The fight scenes had a mixed effect for me - they were either way too fast or too slow. (They were thrilling and beautiful to watch though.) But, I was glad that they used slow motion for certain scenes otherwise the beauty of the movements would've been lost, particularly for Zhou Zi Shu.

++ The OST: I admit, the opening song didn't catch my attention at first. But, now I have it on repeat in my head. Even some of the BGMs were just so "fitting", particularly the one that played during Zhou Zi Shu's first fight in Mirror Lake Sect in EP2. They have a strangely haunting feeling.

+++ The villain... was a weakling from start to finish. And he strangely had a strong sleazeball effect that I had not felt with many others before. I just hated him. That was a down point for me. Even the other evil fellow had redeeming points. I couldn't hate him till the very end. I pitied him.

This review is already long enough, so I'll head straight for the points that make me wish that I'd never started this drama in the first place. *MILD SPOILERS*

+++ The script, which was going really, really well takes a sharp turn down a rocky road, particularly after EP30. It is known that the budget constraints had reduced the number of EPs to 36, but the way it was handled was unbelievable. Changes were made from the novel, but the transition from one scene to another made very little to no sense at all, unless we come up with theories ourselves. The obvious plothole sort of ruined the watching experience for me. I can now see that several things that happened in EP32-33 were a set up for the ultimate finale, but I really wished they'd taken a more simpler, meaningful path. It made several characters who claimed to be intelligent look stupid. Seeing Zhou Zi Shu during those episodes was like twisting a knife through your heart and that's something I will never forgive this drama for. It's been more than a week since I completed it and I still can't forget those moments. But, EP35 and EP36 saved the drama, even though it felt a bit too rushed.

+++++ I can see why it has an 8.6 rating in Douban. The "wuxia" aspect is pretty serious and strong in this one. Several of the recent releases have all come closer to the "candy wuxia" category, from my observation.
There are several backstories and characters to keep up with, which some people might find annoying. I needed three rewatches to remember everyone. But, all three were absolutely worth it.

+++ The finale, I admit, was heart crushing. Anyone who thought they should film it or write it were pure evil. The concert was like a balm to my soul and so was the epilogue, but I find that several foreshadowings in EP36 give the ending epilogue a real meaning. I couldn't be happier.
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I debated several times how to rate Word of Honor, considering all ranges from 7.5 to 10. Cruel, but in a website such as this, where personal enjoyment and hype elevates the scores of several dramas, it is fair.
With that being said, why did I give this drama such a rating, when it obviously had faults? Because in the end I couldn't. Judging by the amount of absolutely bland stuff I've watched/forced myself through to the end/dropped/ended up forgetting, this is by far one of the best dramas I've ever seen. It was my best friend for three months straight. I put every single drama I was watching on hold for it, keeping all my bets on the scriptwriter's promise to keep going till the end despite the absolutely slow subtitles. I felt like I was going through a winner's curse while watching the last few episodes. I rooted for the characters' happiness. When they were hurt, I felt the same. I was enraged with the plot in the finale. But, that shows how deeply it had impressed me and that's solely because the people behind this adaptation knew how to capture viewers and knew what exactly to do with what they had in their hands. This drama has an unexpectedly huge number of characters and scenes with them that would require more time and budget, so its understandable that its not perfect. (It got released really quickly: five months after shooting had completed.)
Even with the last bit of staggering plot in the end, it spun arpund my feelings like a washing machine. And it was 100% worth it. Zhou Zi Shu is right up there with Aragorn as a favorite character of mine. (Wen Ke Xing would come along anyway - they are a pair of wings.)

If Zhang Zhe Han worries that people might forget Zhou Zi Shu or Wen Ke Xing, it is unnecessary.
There are plenty of us who still needs to be forcefully pushed off the mountain or those who still keep peeking or visiting. Pretty sure that Lao Wen would eventually kick us off one day.

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Enough Excitement

In a way, Word Of Honor reminds me of Legend Of Fei. Both are about looking for keys to open a vault that houses some valuable items. But Word Of Honor has a more structured and fast-paced storyline. Viewers are told clearly what the sects are fighting for by the middle of the drama unlike the ambiguities in Legend Of Fei. The excitement is heightened by the mysterious Ke Xing and the whodunnit nature of the tragedy befalling Rong Xuan. Of course, the bromance between the 2 male leads also takes the drama up a notch which is a refreshing change from the usual romances.

A Well-Presented Plot
Basically, the plot is about revenge and the fighting for keys to an armory. It is nothing new in that sense as these are common themes for wuxia dramas. What sets it apart is the way the story is told. The start can be confusing but once you get an idea on what the story is about, it is easy to get hooked. You will get drawn to both the male leads as their different backgrounds have a melancholic aura and their past links are gradually peeled off as the drama progresses. Thus, there is that chase factor to make you want to know more about what happened in the past and how things will be resolved in the present.

I think the screenwriters struck the right balance in maximizing the mysteriousness of the characters while minimizing the ambiguities to avoid causing viewers too much confusion. There are also a few twists and turns to keep things interesting. So, overall, it is a well-executed drama that successfully uses a bromance to flush out the meaty part of the story which leads me to the next point.

Acting And Chemistry
Personally, I prefer this BL pair than the one in The Untamed. This is because Ke Xing is a very flirty character while Zi Shu has his way of responding to all the teases which is cute to watch at times. The way Simon Gong and Zhang Zhe Han played their roles as soul mates are very easy on the eyes. Even if you are not a fan of BL dramas, their interactions are merely suggestive of what it could be rather being plainly overdone. This is made possible with the great chemistry between the 2 actors who show a lot of depths in displaying their characters. While Zhang Zhe Han’s chemistry with Ju Jing Yi in The Blooms Of Ruyi Pavilion and Legend Of Yun Xi has caught a lot of people’s attention, his cooperation with Simon Gong is just as good, if not better.

In Word Of Honor, both Ke Xing and Zi Shu are tormented souls. Both the actors successfully projected the pain needed in some scenes to make viewers feel for these 2 antagonists. You can also see Simon Gong’s intense expressions in his eyes as he projects the anger in Ke Xing’s character. In short, there is nothing to complain about regarding the 2 lead actors’ performance.

A Small Weakness
For me, a small weakness of this drama is the swift introduction of various characters which has the potential to be confusing for some viewers. Things are pretty vague in the initial episodes as these different characters belong to different sects and you will be at a loss of how they are linked to each other. It takes about 10 to 15 episodes for me to gradually understand the bigger picture.

Therefore, Word Of Honor is not exactly a straightforward historical drama such as A Girl Like Me or even The Wolf. Certain things are kept hidden to heighten the anticipation. Hence, you need to have some patience to wait for the reveal. But the upside is the episodes are easy to sit through because the story moves pretty fast and the bromance between the 2 male leads will make you want to follow their adventure.

My Verdict – What Else But Watch!
Word Of Honor is indeed worth watching. If you are tired of the usual historical romance dramas of generals and princesses, this would be a welcome change. Just like The Untamed, the BL element is obvious but with a soft tone. In the drama, the men are projected as soul mates which is apt as both of them are tormented by their past. So, don’t let that BL label scare you away if you are not into same sex pairings.

Furthermore, there is depth of character in Word Of Honor. Rather than a totally good or bad guy in the usual dramas, Ke Xing and Zi Shu have layers to their personalities. Hence, they are not so one-dimensional. They have committed sins and suffer from guilt and remorse. Ke Xing is also an angry and revengeful man. All taken together, the characters are well-developed which makes them interesting to watch as you get to see both their good and evil sides especially Ke Xing. But ironically, you will still root for them mainly because of the great storytelling and well-planned character development which will beguile you as you watch on. It reminds me of the Night Immortal in Ashes Of Love whereby you could easily relate to the evil side of the character.

Overall, I will give a score of 8/10 for this Word Of Honor review. It is hard not to love this drama given the well-executed plot and characters. The fact that you have 2 handsome guys having a bromance is the icing on the cake here. You won’t miss the typical fluff and sweetness that come with the usual romance dramas. The 2 men simply have enough chemistry between them to generate the necessary sizzles for a change.

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