Written by Chan Kiu-ying First episode date 2008 Number of episodes 42 | Directed by Kuk Kwok-leung Network Asia Television | |
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Also known as 'The Legendary Fok 2008' Genre Martial arts, historical drama, biographical Presented by Sheng XiaodongRen XiaojieWang Dafang Starring Ekin ChengJordan ChanBryan LeungZhou MuyinDing LiQu Yue Languages Standard Cantonese, Standard Mandarin | ||
Huo Yuanjia is a television series based on the life of the Chinese martial artist Huo Yuanjia. It includes a subplot about Chen Zhen, a fictional student of Huo Yuanjia and the protagonist of the 1972 film Fist of Fury. The series was directed by Kuk Kwok-leung and starred Ekin Cheng, Jordan Chan, Zhou Muyin, Bryan Leung, Ding Li and Qu Yue in the lead roles. It was first released in 2008 and was later broadcast on various television channels in other countries in the following year. The sequel, titled Jingwu Chen Zhen, was released in late 2008.
Contents
Plot
Huo Yuanjia was born in Jinghai County, Tianjin, in a family of martial artists. He is asthmatic as a child so his father, Huo Endi, strongly discourages him from practising martial arts, but he does not give up and secretly learns from "Great Sword" Wang Wu, a swordsman who once saved him from drowning. Huo Endi and his junior, Zhao Shengxian, were trained in martial arts by the same master, but they became rivals after their master's death. Despite the animosity between their respective fathers, Huo Yuanjia develops a close friendship with Zhao Shengxian's daughter, Zhao Qiannan. One day, Cheng Tianxiao, Huo Endi and Zhao Shengxian's senior, shows up and challenges them to a fight. Huo Yuanjia surprises everyone by displaying his skills for the first time when he saves his father from Cheng Tianxiao's aggressive advances. He defeats Cheng Tianxiao in a match later and the latter dies. Cheng Tianxiao's apprentice, Chen Zhen, sees Huo Yuanjia as a sworn enemy and vows to avenge his master. However, Huo accepts Chen as his student in the hope of resolving their feud. Chen initially harbours a grudge against Huo and seeks to kill Huo, but dismisses the idea as he becomes more impressed with the latter's chivalry and patriotism.
One day, Zhao Qiannan's cousin, Long Haisheng, comes to Jinghai on a business trip. Long is actually plotting to dominate Jinghai's market by running an opium industry but Huo Yuanjia foils his plan and destroys the opium in public. In revenge, Long frames Huo for murder, forcing Huo to flee from Jinghai. Huo travels to Tianjin with Chen Zhen and Liu Zhensheng, where he gradually becomes involved in the affairs of the martial artists' community in Tianjin. Huo makes his name by defeating an aggressive Japanese fighter in a fight and emerges victorious in subsequent matches with foreign challengers. Huo moves to Shanghai, where he founds the Jingwu School to train martial artists to defend China from foreign aggressors. Huo is targeted by a Japanese secret agent called Wang Xiwen, who plots his downfall. In the meantime, Chen Zhen strikes up a romantic relationship with Wang Xiwen's subordinate, Wang Xiuzhi, without knowing that the Wangs' true identities.
Huo is chosen to represent China in a martial arts tournament held in Shanghai, with champions from various countries participating. Huo defeats all his opponents until he meets Itō, a brutish Japanese fighter. As Huo had been secretly poisoned by a spy planted by Wang Xiwen in Jingwu School, he collapses during the match but manages to defeat Itō before dying. Chen Zhen continues Huo's legacy by upholding the Jingwu spirit and he seeks to bring Huo's murderers to justice. The final scenes in the last episode are reminiscent of the 1972 film Fist of Fury, where Chen charges into the Hongkou dojo and takes down every opponent he meets before killing Wang Xiwen. The final scene shows Chen charging with a flying kick towards a line of armed soldiers firing at him.