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It is the beginning of the 20th Century in China, and the country is in the throes of a cultural renaissance. Shen Zhi Heng (Gao Wei Guang) is a media magnate who owns and operates the most powerful newspaper in Haidong. But what people don’t know is that mysterious Zhi Heng is no ordinary mortal—he is actually a vampire. Zhi Heng has been alive for over a century in his quest to find his younger brother. Zhi Heng is a fearless and principled man, and his newspaper’s ability to unearth the truth and influence public opinion has irked many and won him enemies.
One snowy night, he escapes a serious assassination attempt on his life after he refuses to align with corrupt military officials. Badly wounded and in hiding, he is saved by a blind young woman named Mi Lan (Ouyang Nana). Unbeknownst to him, Mi Lan has run away from home after being constantly abused by her mother, and she wants to end her life. He asks Mi Lan to help him find his friend Situ Wei Lian (WinWin), who is a doctor. The incident entwines Zhi Heng and Mi Lan in a strange relationship, where he is grateful to this determined young woman for saving him, and she for once finds a purpose to help someone. But Zhi Heng’s enemies are still out to get him. As Zhi Heng defies his mortal enemies and keeps searching for his brother, who is the only one who can help save him from his predicament as a monster, his growing feelings for Mi Lan may just complicate matters.
“Snow Fall” has a unique premise of a vampire protagonist, set against the backdrop of China’s Republican era. Here are three things we enjoyed from this bittersweet fantasy romance.
An endearing vampire with a heart of gold
Shen Zhi Heng is a man who exudes an aura of confidence. A forthright man who speaks and stands for the truth, Zhi Heng is feared by many. But this stout-hearted man feels helpless at his inability to find his younger brother, who is is responsible for his situation. Shen Zhi Heng was once human but had turned into a monster after he rescued his younger half-brother, who had been born to a vampire. It’s been more than a century since Zhi Heng has been unable to find his brother, who he thinks has been evading him. But is he really?
Shen Zhi Heng is brutally injured and nearly killed by the men of Li Ying Liang (Ryan Ren). Li Ying Liang is the Chairman of the Economic Development Committee and has bid allegiance with the corrupt officials in the Haidong Army, who regard Zhi Heng as the biggest hurdle in their plans. Bloodied and injured, Zhi Heng finds refuge in an old temple, and this is where he meets Mi Lan. Zhi Heng requests her to pass a message onto his doctor friend Situ Wei Lian, the only person who can save him. This is the start of Zhi Heng and Mi Lan’s unique relationship, where he finds himself indebted to this young woman, and she seems to have found an anchor in him.
As a complicated web of intrigue and deceit is laid out by Li Ying Liang, who enlists the help of the powerful Mu Li Hua to overpower Zhi Heng, things get knotty and complicated. Will Zhi Heng be able to survive? Will he find his brother, and most of all, is there any happiness destined for him and Mi Lan?
Gao Wei Guang slips into the shoes of Zhi Heng with ease, showcasing his character’s maturity and insight. What makes Zhi Heng appealing is that he is humane and empathetic toward the suffering of others. He protects the ones he cares for fiercely, even at the expense of his own life. Gao Wei Guang makes a strong impression, even at times when the writing is unable to do justice to his character.
A resilient young woman braving against all odds
When we first meet Mi Lan, she is mercilessly beaten up by her mother. In her family’s eyes, her only “fault” is that she is blind. She is regarded as the reason why her father has chosen his concubine, who has borne him a son, over Mi Lan’s mother. Mi Lan may be unable to see but has developed a strong sense of smell, and she also has the knack to tune into conversations. It’s at the lavish banquet celebrating the birth of her half-brother where she first feels the presence of Zhi Heng as she overhears whispers around his name.
Mi Lan is the scapegoat of her mother’s pent up frustrations and anger. A victim of brutal physical and mental abuse, Mi Lan tries to escape her ordeal by running away from home. Saving the wounded Zhi Heng makes her realize that her life does have some purpose after all. Her first rebellion against her mother is when she cuts her long hair so that her mother no longer can pull it and knock her around. Her meeting with Zhi Heng further gives her the confidence that she has someone to watch over her.
Zhi Heng, impressed with the Mi Lan’s dedication and earnestness in saving him, promises to be there for her, while she promises him that she would always save him and look out for him. Given their age-gap and the situation, the relationship starts off more along the lines of a guardian and a ward, but one does notice how Mi Lan idolizes Zhi Heng. The lonely vampire, on the other hand, also finds himself being drawn and developing a fondness for the innocent friendless woman.
Ouyang Nana does her best in playing Mi Lan and articulating her character’s plight and pathos. The scenes where her mother is constantly abusing her are rather disturbing and distressing. But Mi Lan’s fortitude comes through in her strength of character, and Ouyang Nana tries to find her way through the character and her growing arc. Though the chemistry between the leads is a bit difficult to comprehend, one cannot help but root for them.
An impressive ensemble cast and set design
The ensemble cast in “Snow Fall” makes a lasting impression. WinWin’s Situ Wei Lian, for one, shines through in this narrative. He is a mysterious and mischievous doctor who has several secrets and aces up his sleeve. WinWin emerges as the scene stealer and a welcome respite in the story, and his charm and dry wit are engaging. The bromance between Zhi Heng and Situ Wei Lian is also engaging, and the two have good character chemistry. Li Ying Liang is another interesting character, and even though the writing fails him at times, he shines in his role.
The color palette of the show features shades of grey, which brings forth the chilly yet intense premise to the fore, and is offset with crimson reds as well as pastels which add to the mood. Recreating the Republican Era, the fashion and styling is also on point. From velvet capes, smart suits, to silky cheongsams as well as pinafore dresses, “Snow Fall” is a fashion look book of the 1920s.
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Puja Talwaris a Soompi writer with a strong Yang Yang and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.
Currently watching: “Cinderella at 2AM“
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