Legend of the Eight Immortals

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Legend of the Eight Immortals
Hanyu Pinyin
Dōng Yóu Jì
GenreChinese mythology fiction
Based onDong You Ji
by Wu Yuantai
Screenplay byLu Zhiming
Li Yanping
Huang Jinhua
Xie Junyuan
Directed byEdmund Tse
Zhang Baolian
Huo Zhikai
Yuan Guowei
Leung Sing-kuen
Luo Ting
StarringSteve Ma
Phyllis Quek
Jacelyn Tay
Jerry Chang
Yvonne Lim
Theme music composerLin Yi-hsin
Xiong Tianping
Opening themeXiaoyao You (逍遥游) performed by Wu Jiaming
Country of originSingapore
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes30
Production
Executive producersLi Daming
Zhou Qiang
ProducersMa Jiajun
Zheng Ning
Cheng Xinmin
Edmund Tse
Production locationsSingapore
Malaysia
China
EditorsJiang Jianhua
Xie Jinmei
Running time45 minutes per episode
Production companies
  • TCS
  • Sichuan TV Drama Production Centre
  • Jiangsu World Film and Television Production Centre
Original release
NetworkTCS Eighth Frequency
Release26 November 1998 (1998-11-26) –
6 January 1999 (1999-01-06)

Legend of the Eight Immortals is a

Television Corporation of Singapore (TCS; now MediaCorp) in collaboration with two mainland Chinese companies, the series had cast members from Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China. It was first aired in Singapore on TCS Channel 8
from 26 November 1998 to 6 January 1999.

Plot

The Universe is under threat by a demonic cult led by Tongtian Jiaozhu. The Jade Emperor, the supreme ruler of Heaven, orders Immortal Donghua to find seven other worthy beings and form a team known as the Eight Immortals to counter the cult. After the first five members – Tieguai Li, Han Zhongli, Zhang Guolao, Lan Caihe and He Xiangu – have joined, Donghua chooses to undergo reincarnation to help the remaining two members – Han Xiangzi and Cao Guojiu – achieve immortality faster. He is reincarnated as Lü Dongbin and serves as the team leader. However, he has to overcome his romantic entanglements with Peony Fairy because romance between immortals is forbidden by Heaven's laws. At one point, Tongtian Jiaozhu implants a "blood curse" in Lü Dongbin which causes the latter to lose control of his senses and go rogue. Tongtian Jiaozhu is later betrayed and killed by his treacherous follower, Pangolin, who absorbs his powers. Pangolin, who has a crush on He Xiangu, cleverly manipulates the Eight Immortals and causes them to turn against each other and sow discord between them and other deities. The Eight Immortals combine their strengths to defeat Pangolin and the evil forces and bring peace to the Universe.

Cast

Eight Immortals
Others
  • Phyllis Quek as Bai Mudan, a maiden whom Lü Dongbin is destined to have romantic entanglements with. She becomes an obstacle to his quest to unite the Eight Immortals because he is forced to choose between his romance with her and his allegiance to his team.
    • Quek also portrayed Peony Fairy, Bai Mudan's previous avatar. She has a crush on Immortal Donghua and was banished to the human world for breaking Heaven's laws.
  • Yvonne Lim as Long San, the Dragon King's third daughter who is revealed later to be actually an offspring of the Evil Dragon and Chunying. She has a crush on Han Xiangzi and transforms herself to look like Zhenniang.
    • Lim also portrayed Zhenniang, Fei Zhangfang's mute but virtuous wife.
  • Xie Shaoguang as Pangolin, a treacherous demon who has a crush on He Xiangu. He betrays Tongtian Jiaozhu, absorbs his powers, and commit several atrocities in his attempt to destroy Lü Dongbin and the other Immortals and have He Xiangu for himself.
  • Hong Huifang as Chunying, the widow of the Evil Dragon and Long San's mother. She used to be one of Tongtian Jiaozhu's deputies and committed several wicked deeds in her bid to kill Lü Dongbin and avenge her husband. However, she repents after she is touched by her daughter's filial piety and returns to the path of goodness.
  • Tracer Wong as Tree Demoness, one of Tongtian Jiaozhu's deputies. She has an affair with Pangolin.
  • Huang Shinan as Tongtian Jiaozhu, Taishang Laojun's evil junior who formed a demonic cult to challenge Heaven.
  • Fighting Victorious Buddha
    " after completing the quest to obtain the Buddhist scriptures. He is a friend and ally of the Eight Immortals.
    • Ng also portrayed Sun Ying, the Six Eared Macaque's son and Sun Wukong's apprentice. He has a crush on Long San and relentlessly tries to win her heart.
  • Ding Lan as Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of compassion and mercy. She shows up to help the Immortals when they are in desperate situations.
  • Yang Dawei as Jade Emperor, the supreme ruler and patriarch of Heaven.
  • Queen Mother of Heaven
    , the matriarch of Heaven.
  • Taishang Laojun, one of the Three Pure Ones
    .
  • Dragon King of the East Sea
    , the ruler of all marine beings in the East Sea.
  • Wang Yanbin as Erlang Shen, the three-eyed warrior deity who serves as a general under the Jade Emperor.
  • Hong Shihu as Dragon Crown Prince, the Dragon King's eldest son.
  • Chen Tianwen as the Evil Dragon who is slain by Immortal Donghua in the opening scene.
  • Zhou Quanxi as Turtle Premier, the premier of the Dragon King's marine kingdom.
  • Zheng Youguo portrayed the
    Buddha
    , who shows up to help the Immortals when they are in danger.
  • Wang Xiuyun as Fei Zhangfang's mother
  • Yang Yue as
    Yama, the ruler of the Underworld
    .

See also

External links