The Water Margin (1973– ) User Reviews (16)

Do Not Despise the Snake for Having No Horns...

[spindizzy · 9/10 · 22 January 2005]

... for Who is to Say it Will Not Become a Dragon?

The Water Margin is justly regarded as a cult TV show in the UK where the entire 26 episode run has been shown 3 times since 1976. Originally a 13th century Chinese epic, this TV series was made in Japanese and then dubbed into English before screening by the BBC.

I'm not going to include any spoilers, but simply say it's a tale of chivalry. If you try it your curiosity will be well rewarded. Also it has what must be the most heroic TV theme ever...

Oh ~ and it shouldn't be confused with either the 1972 Shaw Brothers film of the same name, or the oddball 1999 'Water Margin: Heroes' Sex Stories'.

'...One wrong can move a people, and a wronged people can move the world.'

Mythic Action

[Vinny37 · 8/10 · 18 October 2006]

Skipping over the myth of souls reborn, this was a fantastic series of good vs evil, many battles won by evil, but never the war. It raises the question of whether, seeing that illusion exists, life itself is a mere illusion - evil seems to prefer the idea of moral unaccountability, whereas good is prepared to face reality & unselfishly die for what is right. The main protagonist is Lin Chung, sword master. He forms the hub of a resistance movement. The agent of darkness is Kao Chui, risen from insignificant society to prime minister, looking to undermine his sovereign & rule China. Real heroes & villains. It should not be forgot. Downsides exist, such as some buffoonery where there should be seriousness, and the backdrops (eg landscape & moonscape).

Why is this forgotten?

[Jurado · 8/10 · 21 February 2001]

I remember this series well. It was broadcast on Dutch television (as on British television as I gather from their: I love the 70's TV-series). It's about a sort of Robin Hood-like character called Lin Chung and his band of merry men and women. It had I recall beautiful fight-scenes and a very good plot. If you loved "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" try to get a hold of this somehow.

Probably my favourite TV programme of all time

[soltakss · 10/10 · 19 May 2006]

At one level, it is a Chinese martial arts series, and a good one at that, with excellent and believable action. But it is so much more than this.

The characters have been developed and rounded, so you feel as though you know them. The plots are intricate enough and stretch over a number of episodes, giving the impression that it is not just a number of linked stories.

The Heroes have more honour than any comparable series, whereas Kao-Chiu is as disreputable a villain as you will ever see. But, even the heroes can make mistakes and are defeated fairly often, making them human.

The fight scenes are excellent, especially when Lin Chung bursts on the scene doing his whirlwind impression. One of the episodes has a man being cut vertically in two by a sword, something which had a lasting impression on me as a 14 year old when I first watched it.

All in all, an excellent series.

Superb

[andrewslamb · 10/10 · 1 September 2005]

What can one say about this series? Well I remember as a youngster watching it on TV, it wasn't until I got the series on video again a few years back that i appreciated how good it actually is. Think Robin Hood and his merry men set in China at the time of the tsung dynasty and you very much have the idea. The basic idea is that Lin Chung(Atsuo Nakamora ) a brave and noble member of the imperial guard is discredited by his corrupt peers, because his superior Kao Chiu (brilliantly played by and Kei Sato) lusts after lin Chung's wife, who of course knocks him back and kills herself after Lin divorces her rather than have her share in his disgrace. The "Gang" are an assortment of characters who all vary differently but add to the overall feel of the show from Lu Ta (Isamu Nagato) The gentle giant priest, to Hu San-Niang (Sanae Tsuchida) who carries a torch for our hero, and who is a dab hand with a sword herself through to Shi Shin ,The Tattoed Dragon as played by Teruhiko Aoi. Like the merry man in the Robin Hood legend each character has their own skills and traits and each contributes to the overall story arc.Each having a story to themselves almost.

All in all the show can be summed up in one word..............Fantastic.

Another jewel made in Japan.

[ReneAdrian Schell · 29 April 2002]

Now this is the best series ever shown of its kind. From being a school kid to having become a grown-up to me, this classic still has a magic to it. Often referred to as the Robin Hood of Liang Shan Po in the South chinese marsh lands Lin Chung leads his "army" of just men (and one woman). All joined him because of the faith they all met with and shared. Without spoiling anything it is safe to say the story is set in a corrupt ancient imperial china, in which a loyal and just army officer becomes a rival to a corrupt man named Kao Chiu who later even works his evil ways up to becoming a governor of the province. All members of Lin Chungs band are outlaws in the eyes of the corrupt powers that be. And so they fight a war of justice, which is not always easy. The "bad guys" are the good and the really bad are bad. Each member has his/her own specialty be it a fast runner, excellent archer, marvellous swordsman, or a great strategic mind. All characters develop from their wronged positions into free souls formerly belonging to knights, bringing out the good in (most) people. Often their fighting can be and is being compared to "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" for the flighing through the air and all martial arts moves...... Well, I remember loads of it and ordered the 24 out of 26 available parts from Amazon Video. It will be great to enjoy it all again from time to time. The voices have been dubbed and even that had been done in a great way, which makes us understand the dialogues and still gives the play its authenticity. NHK produced it in 1977. The star role of Lin Chung played by Atsuo Nakamura. Also there's comic relief in the overweight form of Lu-Ta a Buddhist "flower priest" an asian "Friar Tuck". Watch Wu Sung the Tiger man he is a lot of laughs too, eventhough I don't hear many comments on him. Hu San-Niang is the only feminine hero. It seems all other women die in the one episode they happen to appear in. At one stage we even saw Hu San-Niangs "kid" sister. Best other hero Shih Chin Tatooed dragon. All according to the chinese saga. Shih Chin always represented what I, then a schoolkid wanted to be like. Except for the tattoos. Well, I am no "yakuza".

So the Water Margin eventhough a while back, remains yet another oriental feast to watch, especially for people, who like me are very much into "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" stuff. BANZAI ! - a Ten out of Ten in my rating book.

Wonderful

[editor-107 · 10/10 · 11 September 2005]

Loved this as a child and watched it religiously on BBC2 every week. It was very much centred on story rather than mindless violence, a sort of Robin Hood and King Arthur in one. It also featured an interesting mix, not only of martial arts but also of wizards, clever tricks, evil villains... It also conveyed well the concepts of good, bad, betrayal and other timeless morals that can be understood anywhere rather than being a front for Chinese propaganda as I found HERO to be. The movement was also believable rather than looking like people at he end of wires. Breaks my heart to see so much rubbish on the big screen these days, yet Hollywood has never made this into a Blockbuster. Certainly one to rent or buy if you can!

Superb series based on a Chinese legend

[TheGord · 10/10 · 17 January 2002]

My first thoughts on "Crouching Tiger" were that it was very much in the vein of the Water Margin, but with superior production values. However, the Water Margin story is much superior, the cast go at it with gusto, and it made for an altogether very satisfying long running series. Hopefully it will be re-run sometime; I had hoped that getting cable would allow me to see it on any old obscure channel that cared to bring it back!

Incidentally, while it was being shown the theme song made a slight dent in the charts, albeit sung in English on one side and Japanese on the other.

My hero from Liang Shan Po

[msmith2032 · 10/10 · 4 August 2004]

I remember being between 8 and 10 years old, when "The Water Margin" was shown in Germany on TV. Then it was titled "Die Rebellen vom Liang Shan Po". A epic transporting me into a enchanted realm, where everything was possible. Running from city to city in just a couple of steps, seeing and hearing the enemy from far distances....... . And then the unwilling hero himself Lin Chung. The leader who refuses to be a leader, but in the end changes his world. Now 27 years later, just thinking about it, makes me want to see "The Water Margin" over and over again! It left a lasting impression on me and it would be great to see it on TV here in the US.

early Kungfu from china

[limbo12 · 10/10 · 9 September 2005]

I can only comment on this movie as being a great Kungfu action and adventure series. This was my favorite far east series as I was a kid I recently saw them again and the series remains great. I would recommend this one to everyone

I also discovered you get get it on DVD search Ebay It's 2 seasons long with each 13 episodes but it is English dubbed then though i heard and read somewhere on the net that it is also out in Asia and Chinese spoken and Eng sub tittle This is also a good series for kids i would say it action but you don't see any blood in it I would recommend thoug ages 9 and up.

So everyone who like some good old fashion action/ Kunfy watch this one Might be a little to old styled for some people

Would be good to see this in the US.

[doris tyldesley · 1 August 2001]

I grew up in England and watched The Water Margin when it was first broadcast on British TV. I found the series gripping and the characters fascinating, particularly the interplay between the hero and the honorable villain. I must admit to having forgotten the program for some years until my son rented the video of The Seven Samurai and that brought it back to my mind. What a pity that the series is available only in European format.

The ancient says

[dragon12 · 10/10 · 15 May 2002]

"The ancient sages said 'Do not despise the snake for having no horns, for who is to say it will not become a dragon?' So may one just man become an army. Nearly a thousand years ago in ancient China, at the time of the Sung dynasty, there was a cruel and corrupt government. These men riding are outlaws, heroes who have been driven to live in the water margins of Liang Shan Po, far to the south of the capital city. Each fights tyranny with a price on his head, in a world very different from our own. The story starts in legend even then, for our heroes, so it was said, were perhaps the souls reborn of other, earlier knights."

This tv serie was shown in the 80th on TV and since then I have been a big fan of Asian movies. Just watch it and enjoy it.

More legendary than game of thrones and sets the standard.

[glenn-whitelaw · 10/10 · 4 January 2019]

Just rewatching this for the 3rd time in my life. Remember watching this on a Sunday 10pm BBC2. Well written and still imo stands the test of time. A story for the ages. No. 1 series to come out of the Asian continent ever. No. 2 being Monkey.

Forgotten treasure

[michaelinnis · 9/10 · 14 November 2023]

Oh the sweet childhood memories.... I spent hours and hours in front of the TV as a kid and couldn't wait for the next episode to air. The whole series is such a timeless classic. Very well writen and decent acting, a door opener for every movie and show of the Asian genre that follows. Unfortunately not very many people know about the show but it's worth checking it out! These days it's available on DVD as two box sets with 13 episodes each box.

The whole show sets place in ancient china and tells the story of a rebel crew and their leader Lin Chung fighting for justice and honor against the corrupt regime of the emperor and his soldiers.

A must see and highly recommend.

What A Margin!!

[buckaroobanzai50 · 18 September 2002]

Before 'Crouching Tiger...' Before Jackie Chan. Before 'A Chinese Ghost Story', there was this fantastic series set during fuedal Japan.

The story went something like this: The hero, Lin Chung, was the right hand soldier of his boss Kao Chu. After fighting a dangerous battle for his master, Lin Chung returns home to find out that his wife has committed suicide. He later discovers that the boss that he so faithfully defended during the war, had on many occasions made lewd advances towards his betrothed. She of course rejected his unwanted attentions, but Kao Chu forces himself upon her. She becomes ashamed and blames herself for the assault, and later takes her own life. Lin Chung attempts to assassinate Kao Chu in revenge, but is captured and imprisoned. After many years, he escapes with a number of inmates, and they seek refuge in their hide-out situated '...on the water margins of the mountains.' as the narrator explains at the beginning of each episode. There they form a band of rebels called The Liang Shang Po, who take it upon themselves to defend villagers and such from Kao Chu's army, and any other hostile aggressors.

The dialogue was dubbed into English, much like a similar series which was broadcast around the same time in England -the late '70s- called 'Monkey'. The battle sequences are truly fantastic to watch, and have obviously been influenced by Akira Kurosawa's films. There is no blood and gore, as this seems to have been aimed at a young/teenage audience, and it remains a classic to anyone who loves martial arts movies.

Honour, fairness, and love against cruelty and corruption

[DStaude · 24 November 2004]

When I saw the series the very first time I was eleven years old and I enjoyed the fightings and the honourful men and women. Three years later I had the chance to see it again and it filled my heart. Due to this movie I started drinking tea. ;-)

Now, as the series is also available on DVD I bought the DVD boxes and saw them again and again. Especially in these "interesting" times we are in, this world will need the rebells again, to fight against cruelty (by terrorists) and corruption (within the countries we all live in). Rebells, who stand for honour and fairness. And we need love to see that there are still good things in live which are worth living for.

I can absolutely recommend this series. Especially when you are interested in China. The actors have done a very good job and they played very well.