Often lauded as director Zhang Jizhong’s best Jin Yong drama, his adaptation of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils has all of his fortes without any of his weaknesses. A perfect combination of solid hand-to-hand combat and artistic license in the action choreography, a stunning cast in equally stunning on-location scenery, a focus on the grandeur of the stories but finally with nuanced relationships and chemistry between the characters. Hu Jun is truly one of the few actors who pulls off the rugged-at-large-soft-in-the-heart Xiao Feng, while Jimmy Lin’s idol-drama-take on Duan Yu makes him much more likable than the original character. Liu Tao’s Ah-Zhu was the first TV character who made me cry, while Jiang Xin’s Mu Wuantong remains her most gorgeous role to date. Chen Hao and Shu Chang also gave amazing performances as two complex female antagonists.
The impeccably cast series stars Hu Jun, Jimmy Lin, Gao Hu, Liu Tao, Chen Hao, Jiang Xin, Shu Chang, Liu Yifei, Yang Rui, Xiu Qing, Tong Chun-Chung, Christy Chung, Diana Pang, etc.
Liu Tao as Ah-zhu 
Chen Hao as Ah-zi 
Jiang Xin as Mu Wanqing 
Jiang Xin as Mu Wanqing 
Shu Chang as Tianshan Tonglao 
Liu Yifei as Wang Yuyan 
Yang Rui as Zhong Ling 
Wang Wei as Ah-Bi
Hu Jun as Qiao Feng 
Jimmy Lin as Duan Yu 
Xiu Qing as Murong Fu 
Gao Hu as Xu Zhu
Ruan Danning as Gan Baobao 
Christy Chung as Kang Min 
Gao Yuan as Dao Baifeng 
Gao Yuan as Dao Baifeng 
Xie Yuxin as Li Qiushui 
Zheng Shuang as Aunt Yu 
Peng Dan as Qin Hongyuan 
Li Yongyong as Ruan Xingzhu
I watched three versions in the order of 1982, 2013 and 2003. Couldn’t last more than a few episodes of 2013 version. Its characters and script felt wrong. Very vaguely remember 1982 main male cast fit well. The ladies looked older than their characters but their acting was good. Hu Jun was a much better Qiao Feng comparing to the 2013 version. 2003 main cast overall was better than 2013 main cast, but objectively speaking, both sets of young female cast were not all that good.
Will try to check out the newest version, if it ever becomes available. I’m hoping because Jing Yong’s novels can be considered classics, maybe Chinese regulators will eventually someday allow the story to air intact. Not much hope though.