Remaining faithful to the novel’s plot, the miniseries made slight alterations and omissions. Reviews from both critics and viewers varied, as they lauded the performances of the cast but criticized the pacing, dialogue, and production values.
The miniseries received two Emmy Award nominations: one for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie, or a Special, and the other for Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie.
The Chinese Web Series
Youku took the reins in 2021, delivering a remarkable 36-episode Chinese web series based on Word of Honor. The web series boasted an exceptional ensemble, featuring Zhang Zhehan as Zhou Zishu, Gong Jun as Wen Kexing, Zhou Ye as Gu Xiang, Ma Wenyuan as Cheng Ling, and Sun Xiuyuan as Ye Baiyi. Cheng Zhichao directed the web series, with the talented Xiao Chu as the writer.
The web series drew inspiration from the novel Faraway Wanderers <天涯客> by Priest, which, in turn, took cues from Word of Honor. It relocated the story’s setting from Vietnam to ancient China and incorporated elements of wuxia (martial arts fantasy) and BL (boys’ love).
The web series weaved a narrative around Zhou Zishu, a former leader of a clandestine organization, who relinquishes his duties in pursuit of a peaceful existence. Fate introduces him to Wen Kexing, a mischievous and enigmatic individual who claims to be his friend. Together, they embark on a series of thrilling adventures and unravel perplexing mysteries that involve a legendary treasure, a secretive sect, and a formidable adversary.
Critics and viewers alike showered the web series with accolades, praising the mesmerizing chemistry between the leads, exhilarating action sequences, witty humor, captivating music, and exceptional cinematography. It also garnered an immense and devoted fan base, particularly among BL enthusiasts who appreciated the subtle yet undeniable romance between Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing.
The web series earned numerous award nominations, spanning categories such as Best Web Series, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Soundtrack, and Best Theme Song.
Where To Read Novel Word of Honor
You can read Word of Honor online or buy a copy from various platforms such as:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Google Play Books
- Apple Books
Conclusion
Word of Honor is a novel that will make you think about personal values, moral issues, guilt, innocence, and culpability in wartime.
