A few dramas with some of the best villains, and best heroic moments of Korean fusion/sageuk and Chinese historical/costume/wuxia. Lacking...Empress Ki, but I love the meme, sorry :).

Heroic Deeds, Dread Adversaries, and Great Music

Beijing TV, Dragon TV

Ancient China is being torn apart by a bitter feudal that pits the Northern Wei dynasty against the Southern Liang. With help from the Liang general and his formidable 19-year-old son Lin Shu (Hu Ge), the Liang secure a famous victory over the Wei. But treachery – rather than rewards – await the Lin family. A treacherous plot undermines the family, and many members are ruthlessly massacred.

Lin Shu escapes, but is poisoned. With his life in danger, a healer gives him an antidote that radically reduces his strength and robs him of his fighting powers. The antidote also leaves him looking very different. He assumes the name Mei Chang Su and begins on the long path to revenge. The journey brings him into contact with the Emperor’s son and unfavored Prince Jing (Wang Kai), whose brothers are locked in a vicious battle for the Imperial throne. He is also reunited with Mu Ni Huang (Liu Tao), a fearsome female general who does not want to be married off to a controlling husband. Will Lin Shu get what he is after? And will the truth of his identity ever come to light?

“Nirvana in Fire” is a 2015 Chinese drama series that was directed by Kong Sheng and Li Xue.

Nirvana in Fire

Lang Ya Bang

Based upon a comic set during the Joseon period, this historical/action Korean drama centers around political intrigue in the court, resulting in the decimation of the Baek Family. The youngest son survives due to a renowned swordsman\u2019s help and becomes a fierce warrior.

Warrior Baek Dong Soo

⚔The New Joseon Warriors ⚔

MBC, KOCOWA

There has been a prophecy throughout the Silla era that the royal blood won't have male descendants once twins are born in the royal family. When the twin daughters, Cheonmyeong and Deokman, are born, King Jinpyeong hides Deokman away from Silla and makes her live in the Taklamakan Desert in China, making it impossible for Mishil to trace her. Deokman starts to wonder about her origin and birth, so she disguises herself as a man and enters Silla. Princess Cheonmyeong believes Deokman is a man, so she has Deokman be a member of Hwarang. At Hwarang, Deokman meets Yusin, who contributes to the unification of the three countries afterward, and cooperates with him to drag Mishil down. Amidst the conflict with Mishil, Deokman's identity as a princess of Silla is revealed. When Deokman escapes to live, she meets Bidam, the son Mishil has abandoned. Deokman joins hands with Yusin and Bidam to topple Mishil. Check out if Deokman succeeds in becoming a clever leader to rebuild Silla.

The Great Queen Seondeok

Hunan TV

One hundred years after a great war between the Ice Tribe and the Fire Tribe, the only two remaining royal heirs of the Ice Tribe struggle for power. 

Prince Ka Suo (Feng Shao Feng) and his younger half-brother, Yong Kong Shi (Ma Tian Yu), are the only pureblood illusionists and royal heirs left in the Ice Tribe. Ka Suo reluctantly ascends to the throne to help rebuild the kingdom, but he wants nothing more than the freedom to be with his love, Li Luo (Victoria Song), who can never marry him despite rising to become a powerful sorceress because she was born a commoner. 

Kong Shi does everything in his power to take the throne away from Ka Suo, while Yan Da (Zhang Meng), the only daughter of the Fire Tribe royal family, is willing to give up everything for Kong Shi. 

When both Kong Shi and Li Luo suddenly go missing, can Ka Suo protect his kingdom alone when another war breaks out? 

“Ice Fantasy” is a 2016 Chinese drama series directed by Ju Jue Liang. It is based on the novel City of Fantasy by Guo Jing Ming.

Ice Fantasy

Gone with the Shirt Team

Dae Gil, born with the fate of being the son of King Sukjong but forced to live his life as if he\u2019s dead, overcomes a rough start and becomes a card shark shaking up Joseon. King Yeongjo, born the son of a maid, is endlessly kept in check by his half-brother King Gyeongjong and his power. Born to a family of rebels, the cold-blooded genius Lee In Jwa takes King Gyeongjong under his wing and aims to build his own royal court, consisting of the extraordinary genius politician Lee In Jwa, Lady Choi Sukbin, who holds the king's heart in her hands, her son King Yeongjo, and Joseon's best card shark, Dae Gil. At stake are their lives and the sole throne of Joseon. It\u2019s time to wage war like a single, enormous gambling round.

The Royal Gambler

Totally Awesome

Sung Nyang was born a girl but now pretends to be a boy to avoid becoming a palace maidservant. To get revenge on her enemies, she hides her true identity but gets caught up in a Yuan Dynasty conspiracy while watching over the Yuan crown prince To Gon, who was exiled to Koryo. Through a series of twists and turns, she saves To Gon, but her secret about being a woman is discovered, and she is forced to become a royal maidservant. To Gon was the rightful heir to the throne, which was stolen from him by his half-brother, who then exiled him to Koryo. To avoid being murdered, he plays dumb, but he has a fierce rage and sadness within him. He eventually returns to Yuan and becomes Emperor, and with the help of Sung Nyang, a royal maidservant, he becomes a dignified king and fights against those who are a threat to him.

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