Title: Jue Shi Shuang Jiao (The Legendary Siblings 2 or The Amazing Twin)
Language: Chinese
Year Aired: 2002
Episodes: 1-40
Genre: Gu Long/Martial Arts

Summary: A few decades ago, a lone swordsman (Yue LongXuan) appeared in the pugilist world determined to defeat all challengers. Leaders of reputable sects died fighting him. The remaining survivers implored the legendary siblings (Jiang FeiYu and Feng WuQue) to leave their families and defend the pugilist world against Yue's increasing claim to power. Jiang and Feng died in the attempt; however, Yue was also forced to retreat. Meanwhile, Jiang and Feng's wives disappeared with their sons while fleeing Yue's followers...

Twenty years later, a new sect called Tianmen suddenly emerged into power led by their despot Yue LongXuan. They quickly spread terror across the reputable sects. Tianmen's scope of young talent and power was unmatched by any in the known world. Serving directly under Yue are his 3 loyal Knights followed by the 12 Cavaliers, each of them can independently set out at Yue's command to dispense his wrath. Serving underneath the 12 Cavaliers are another 36 Generals. In addition to that, Yue also has a large network of spies planted in every sect in pugilist China.

However, Yue never forgot about the missing descendents of Jiang and Feng... and also about his long-time enemy, the beautiful, icy princess MingYue - the only person in the current world who can duel him to a stalemate. Suddenly, in the span of a few weeks, a string of murders disrupted the lives of complete strangers whose destinies are entwined. Can the pugilist world put aside its personal hate and enmity to entrust their lives to these strangers?

Meanwhile, Yue's forces seek to destroy the newly formed friendship of WuJi and Xiao YuEr (the assumed missing descendents) and time is running out to stop him.

Comments: * * * 1/2 Stars

Before I mention anything else, I'll first say that one and a half stars are for the series' entertainment value. This is definitely a fun series, kind of like a guilty pleasure, if you've watched too many depressing martial arts series.

I'm sure that many viewers will agree that the first half of the series was much better put together than the second half. Many martial arts series are split into mini-adventures that are segmented by episodes. For this series, the first half deals with the mystery of the BuEr Gambling House. When WuJi's fostered parents were brutally murdered in the beginning of the series, WuJi accuses Xiao YuEr, a strange boy he met at the market, of the murder because of a piece of jade he noticed at the scene. Xiao YuEr begged time to prove his innocence and their investigation leads them to BuEr Mansion. One thing happens after another and eventually the first half concludes on an exciting note with the exposure of a Tianmen spy,  a higher conspiracy, familial betrayal, brothers reunited, and sets of friendship torn apart. I was hooked.

Yet, somehow, the structure of the last half is scattered, as if the producers can't decide which part of the plot to focus on. Everybody is off doing their own things but there was no overall string to tie everything together. Suddenly, everything goes boom in the last episode and they try to tie up all loose plotlines in one episode. What can you say when they do stuff this? Catastrophic.

If there is one set of characters I love in this series, it would be XiaoJiang and XueYu. XiaoJiang is the Twelfth (Black) Cavalier of Yue's forces, the youngest and most talented. XueYu is the White Cavalier and Yue's daughter. XueYu is possibly one of the best developed side-side-characters in this series. She starts the show unbelievably cruel and cold, slaughtering without remorse, obeying her father without a question. Then slowly, her character changes. As she continues to journey with XiaoJiang, she develops a conscience. She starts to question what she is asked to do. Out of all the females in this series, XueYu is the most wilful and independent. Her love story with XiaoJiang is developed slowly in the first half and blooms in the second. This is no love at first sight, puppy dog love. They are both mature and independent adults. By the end of the series, it's obvious to the viewers that their love is born out of mutual respect, complete comprehension of each other, loyalty, and 100% trust.

Best Moments:

Weeks after XiaoJiang gets expelled from Tianmen, XueYu shows up and glares at him. XiaoJiang tells her in a stunned voice that she would be expelled as well for coming after him. XueYu tells him that "she's made up her mind." I suppose even the Black Cavalier knows that arguing with her is pointless.

Towards the middle-end of the series, XiaoJiang holds off an entire assault of Tianmen's troops so that the main characters can flee. He gets a limb chopped off and XueYu, horrified and thinking that he died, storms back to Tianmen for revenge. When XiaoJiang wakes up, the medic tells him what happened.

Medic Chang: XueYu thought you were dead. She got very agitated and stormed back to Tianmen to avenge you. Nobody could stop her.
XiaoJiang: That's her courting death. Suicidal.

The exasperated way he said it made me laugh. He knows her too well.

I'm so glad I was able to watch this series, if only to see the development of these unique side characters.