So, I just finished this disaster yet the answer to the whole Mystic Nine/ The Lost Tomb series, that I had to review it right now, no matter what. The two reviews of prior series are very popular on my website and I’m pretty sure my readers have been looking for a closure to the whole thing. I won’t delay anyone and just dive right into it.

For sure, this review is not for anyone who has not watched Mystic Nine and The Lost Tomb. If you’re yet to watch those series, please refrain from reading this post. I am assuming here that people who want to start The Tomb of the Sea have already watched at least one of those two.

As you know from the previous series, the whole Daomu Biji series is about nine clans famously known as “The Mystic Nine”. Mystic Nine was an introduction to the nine clans and how the whole tomb raiding saga started. The Lost Tomb dealt with heir of one of the clans and how he came to know about the existence of this old thing. The Tomb of the Sea is about an outsider, who is a chosen entity to help the Nine Clans deal with a fake tenth clan that has been wrecking havoc in their lives.

To be honest, I don’t have any good views on this drama. Visual effects and such have definitely been improved. There were not many to begin with, unlike the Mystic Nine where there were all kinds of bugs and creatures. There were some here too, but nothing ‘mysterious’ about them.

The plot is a hodge podge of 5 different things happening at the same time. I just can’t imagine how the author wrote the whole story. It follows Wu Xie from The Lost Tomb who is now somewhere in his late 30s early 40s? He has been chasing after a few people who claim to be the tenth clan. Not only the tenth clan has been creating feuds among the nine clans, they also have some beef with the Zhang clan of Mystic Nine.

Wu Xie recruits a high school student called Li Cu who is similar to younger him but otherwise, has nothing to do with the Mystic Nine or even their business. Why he was chosen, we have no idea. He sends Li Cu to the desert to uncover the secrets of an ancient city called GuTongJing.

Side by side, Li Cu’s friends back home keep getting weird ancient stuff from the caves and the delivery people claim it to be coming from Li Cu. His two best friends, Wang Hao and Su Wan also get embroiled into the whole thing.

On the other hand, we are introduced to still alive Zhang Rishan, Zhang Qishan’s (Fo Ye’s) lieutenant (played by Zhang Ming En in both Mystic Nine and this series) who is now heading the nine clans. He is helping Wu Xie take care of the tenth clan while trying to maintain order in the organization. But since he is not directly related to the Zhang clan, people don’t really like to listen to him. What’s more puzzling is that Zhang Rishan has developed some real good powers and he has got the Zhang clan’s tattoo too. Truly bewildering.

Now, to the already initiated, all this is still understandable. But, as usual, the plot is full of holes. Actually, I would go as far to say that the plot is a big hole in itself. After watching it, I’m just left with so many questions, I don’t think I am getting any sleep tonight. Also, the disconnect between The Lost Tomb and this series is so infuriating.

The only thing this series is good for is answering some questions left by the other two series and the movie. I don’t think I have reviewed the Lost Tomb movie yet. But anyway, this series brings them all together. Which is why, I say, you won’t be able to make any sense out of it unless you watch first two series and the movie too. There are enough references of past characters that you just can’t watch it as a stand alone series. And just for that, I thank the writers to take it up till the end.

What’s more annoying is that the series has majorly been shot in dark. Half the times, you don’t know what is happening. Half of the series is lost in translation because no one has officially taken it up for subbing as far as I know. The official channel had left it open for fans to translate and someone did try. I personally think they are more of a machine translation and it’s hard to be making any head or tail of it, especially on the YT channel. The place where I actually watched had decent subs in later episodes. I will post the official link in subsequent sections.

The best thing to happen in this series is Zhang Rishan getting a love interest. And it’s so similar to how forward Zanilia Zhao’s character was towards Fo Ye in Mystic Nine. OMG, I just love the couple. In the name of romance, it’s the only one there. And perhaps the only segment I really looked forward to.

In summary, the only pro to the series is getting to the bottom of unanswered questions from previous series. And of course, watching three cuties namely, Zhang Ming En, Li Cu and Yang Rong. And also, perhaps reliving the memories of Mystic Nine because I still find it the best among all four.

Conclusion: The only reason I would recommend it to anyone is for the closure it finally provides to the fans of Daomu Biji. We, the people who cannot read Chinese, would never really know how true it is to the novels. But at least it’s something.

Final Feelings: ಠ╭╮ಠ

Watch here: Official YouTube Channel
You can also watch it at dramacool.movie (search in the search box).

Personal Section: It’s another year end time eh. I missed a few weeks again but I genuinely have been so busy with work, that I don’t even get enough rest these days unfortunately. Even on Thanksgiving, I did not really get to sleep. Finally took two days off to make an important trip but ended up sleeping the whole time and missing the trip lol.

Anyway, I feel a bit recharged finally but unfortunately I still can’t promise writing regularly. And, so, I won’t promote my ko-fi page because I am not producing any special content for people who are buying me coffees, not as of yet at least. But I will definitely update everything once the project the I work on weekends for ends and my routine returns to normal.

In other news, I finally got to taste the consulting overnight travel. Got to travel to upstate New York for a project. It was a great experience, a small quaint town, slow life and tons of snow. Been a while since I have loved snow so much. I will stop here and hopefully meet you guys next week.

Today’s song: I finally got to listen to Double Knot from SKZ and really liked it. Too bad, I had already posted it in one of the previous posts. Gotta find a new one then. Let’s see. I like this one, a bubbly cheerful song: