#shang bu huan

The Edgless Blade: Shāng Bù Huàn

I was somewhat ambivalent about this show before I started watching it. It didn’t seem like the kind of genre or medium to really interest me. But I gave it a shot since the craftsmanship and art form of the puppetry deserved some attention. And boy, am I glad I did.

The show starts off fairly simple and cosmetic. The show clearly being more about the medium by which the story is told rather than the story itself. As long as I kept that in mind, it was extremely entertaining. Seeing what the puppeteers and artisans could do with dolls and camera work was enthralling to watch. However, as the show continued, particularly as season one began to wrap up, the characters really took on a life of their own and started driving the show.

The way season one wraps up would usually bother me, but it was handled so well and the twist of Shāng’s true motives was so delightful, it made me really appreciate him as a character. And that motive becoming a main driving force in season two kicked this series to the next level, for me.

The second season is a fantastic example of an ensemble cast that stays very well balanced. All of the character dynamics and character driven story beats made this season such a pleasure to watch. On top of that, I think the studio and puppeteers mastered their craft. These expressionless puppets became so life-like through their motions and the camera work. It’s a pretty amazing feat.

As far as story analysis, there’s not much to talk about, really. But this show really isn’t about the story, but rather the fun and lively characters that come to life thanks to the hard work and mastery of the men and women at Nitroplus, Goodsmile & Pili International.