Suikoden

Now this is the best series ever shown of its kind. From being a school kid to having become a grown-up to me, this classic still has a magic to it. Often referred to as the Robin Hood of Liang Shan Po in the South chinese marsh lands Lin Chung leads his "army" of just men (and one woman). All joined him because of the faith they all met with and shared. Without spoiling anything it is safe to say the story is set in a corrupt ancient imperial china, in which a loyal and just army officer becomes a rival to a corrupt man named Kao Chiu who later even works his evil ways up to becoming a governor of the province. All members of Lin Chungs band are outlaws in the eyes of the corrupt powers that be. And so they fight a war of justice, which is not always easy. The "bad guys" are the good and the really bad are bad. Each member has his/her own specialty be it a fast runner, excellent archer, marvellous swordsman, or a great strategic mind. All characters develop from their wronged positions into free souls formerly belonging to knights, bringing out the good in (most) people. Often their fighting can be and is being compared to "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" for the flighing through the air and all martial arts moves...... Well, I remember loads of it and ordered the 24 out of 26 available parts from Amazon Video. It will be great to enjoy it all again from time to time. The voices have been dubbed and even that had been done in a great way, which makes us understand the dialogues and still gives the play its authenticity. NHK produced it in 1977. The star role of Lin Chung played by Atsuo Nakamura. Also there's comic relief in the overweight form of Lu-Ta a Buddhist "flower priest" an asian "Friar Tuck". Watch Wu Sung the Tiger man he is a lot of laughs too, eventhough I don't hear many comments on him. Hu San-Niang is the only feminine hero. It seems all other women die in the one episode they happen to appear in. At one stage we even saw Hu San-Niangs "kid" sister. Best other hero Shih Chin Tatooed dragon. All according to the chinese saga. Shih Chin always represented what I, then a schoolkid wanted to be like. Except for the tattoos. Well, I am no "yakuza".

So the Water Margin eventhough a while back, remains yet another oriental feast to watch, especially for people, who like me are very much into "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" stuff. BANZAI ! - a Ten out of Ten in my rating book.

Skipping over the myth of souls reborn, this was a fantastic series of good vs evil, many battles won by evil, but never the war. It raises the question of whether, seeing that illusion exists, life itself is a mere illusion - evil seems to prefer the idea of moral unaccountability, whereas good is prepared to face reality & unselfishly die for what is right. The main protagonist is Lin Chung, sword master. He forms the hub of a resistance movement. The agent of darkness is Kao Chui, risen from insignificant society to prime minister, looking to undermine his sovereign & rule China. Real heroes & villains. It should not be forgot. Downsides exist, such as some buffoonery where there should be seriousness, and the backdrops (eg landscape & moonscape).

I remember this series well. It was broadcast on Dutch television (as on British television as I gather from their: I love the 70's TV-series). It's about a sort of Robin Hood-like character called Lin Chung and his band of merry men and women. It had I recall beautiful fight-scenes and a very good plot. If you loved "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" try to get a hold of this somehow.

At one level, it is a Chinese martial arts series, and a good one at that, with excellent and believable action. But it is so much more than this.

The characters have been developed and rounded, so you feel as though you know them. The plots are intricate enough and stretch over a number of episodes, giving the impression that it is not just a number of linked stories.

The Heroes have more honour than any comparable series, whereas Kao-Chiu is as disreputable a villain as you will ever see. But, even the heroes can make mistakes and are defeated fairly often, making them human.

The fight scenes are excellent, especially when Lin Chung bursts on the scene doing his whirlwind impression. One of the episodes has a man being cut vertically in two by a sword, something which had a lasting impression on me as a 14 year old when I first watched it.

All in all, an excellent series.

I grew up in England and watched The Water Margin when it was first broadcast on British TV. I found the series gripping and the characters fascinating, particularly the interplay between the hero and the honorable villain. I must admit to having forgotten the program for some years until my son rented the video of The Seven Samurai and that brought it back to my mind. What a pity that the series is available only in European format.