A newbie's guide to The Lost Tomb franchise/Dao Mu Bi Ji/The Graverobber's Chronicles
I have seen people all over the internet asking questions on posts about DMBJ such as, where to start, what it is, and who are those cutie pies? You may have seen images similar to this
I, as someone who has watched a lot of the franchise and read at least half of the books (which if you knew how many there were, that would be impressive), I want to take a moment, or many, to explain to anyone who wants the answer to these questions. This will take a while, I cannot shut up, especially about them.
Spoiler free!
Now, first things first, what is Lost Tomb/DMBJ/Graverobber's Chronicles?
Lost Tomb is a Chinese Franchise comprised of a multitude of dramas and movies over the course of a decade that were all made by different people and actors to tell the story written in the novel series, The Graverobber's Chronicles, or its original Chinese title Dao Mu Bi Ji, written by Nan Pai San Shu.
This means that popular characters people will refer to will have many different faces. Such as all of these being Wu Xie
You may recognize any of those actors if you watch popular Cdramas, 1st Zhu Yilong who plays Shen Wei in Guardian, 2nd Zeng Shunxi who plays Xiao Bao in Mysterious Lotus Casebook, and 3rd Hou Minghao who was recently in Fangs of Fortune as Zhu Yan.
But, what is it about?
Lost Tomb as a franchise is loosely about a man named Wu Xie who is the last in a family line of graverobbers, but he himself has been kept out of the loop by the family. He has had his grandfather's journal since he passed away, which makes him take an interest in the family business. This leads him to force his uncle to let him tag along with him on tomb raiding adventures.
I feel it is important to tell people what they may encounter just in case they have sensitivities, so this franchise as a whole contains supernatural themes of ghosts, zombies, gods, etc. There will be blood, BUGS, and some body horror in a lighter portion, if you have any questions about specifics feel free to ask.
Now, let's skip to who those cutie pies are before telling you about the options for where to start.
The characters you may have seen around that got you interested may be
Wu Xie, the main character who is played a little differently in every iteration of the story but mainly think of a man with a high level of intelligence, but the worst luck in the world and some bitchy attitude (said with love) and you'll have him. You saw some of the most popular actors to play him up top.
Zhang Qiling/Xiao Ge (young master)/Menyouping (Poker-face), one of the main characters who is the strong, emo, silent, tatted sweety of the story. He is mysterious on purpose; you're not meant to know much about him at any given time. Him and Wu Xie are very close and with the next character, they form what is widely known in book, show, and fandom as the Iron Triangle. Just meaning the three are a package deal and won't be separated.
Wang Pangzi, the chubby, stylish, tough, bitchier than Wu Xie, lovable bastard. His name actually translates to Fatty, so that is what you will see everyone call him. It's not mean, just accurate. Pretty much everyone has real names and nicknames they go by. Remember, they are doing something illegal.
It's less likely, but you may have seen my personal favorite boys Hei Xiazi or Hei Yanjing (black glasses or black blind, you'll see why) and Xie Yuchen or Xiao Hua (little flower). They are the black/pink dynamic of the century for me. Hei Xiazi is a merc for hire and Xiao Hua is Wu Xie's cousin who has become the patriarch of his family at a young age.
Now, last question that people ask the most, where do I start?
There is no right or wrong answer, you can start chronologically with Mystic Nine, release order with Lost Tomb 2015, a mixture of both, leave out the ones you aren't interested in (*cough* Time Raiders movie), or just jump in in the middle. Each adaptation is aware of the fact that people will not have seen the others, and they will try to speed run the story to you, which can confuse people, but if you just want to experience the story with familiar faces, it won't be too bad.
To share my experience. I started with the Lost Tomb 2015, continued with Lost Tomb 2 2019, skipped Explore with the Note 2021 because I didn't vibe with it, Ultimate Note, started the prequels with Mystic Nine, which is a prequel with our character's ancestors, watched The Hei Xiazi and Xie Yuchen movie, started Reunion, watched a prequel movie and just started reading the books. I was never super confused because I had the set-up of the first 2 to build upon.
If you are a completionist like me and want to read the novels go to Merebear's blog. She is phenomenal and she has translated pretty much everything for your reading pleasure and laid it all out in an easy-to-follow way. I cannot give her enough gratitude. I absolutely adore her and all of her efforts as well as all her helpers along the way.
Now just a little gay propaganda about Lost Tomb franchise. The novels and shows are not canonically gay, but I mean... they are giving something.
Been trying to make the Eden Residence from Strangers from Hell in the Sims and I thought maybe people could use my layout. This is just from me watching the show and seeing a rough layout online that I checked on myself. There are still some question marks as we never see that part in the show, but if anyone wants to add anything, I would love feedback.
Discussing and rating characters and their different actors in The Lost Tomb franchise
Part 5: Hei Xiazi
Lost Tomb 2 2019 played by Yue Shihan, I rank this Xiazi 3/10. I remember seeing this man one (1) time in the show, but he did save Yuchen, showing their relationship and he was arrogant, which is accurate. Points off for showing his eyes and them being normal...the hell.
Ultimate Note 2020 played by Liu Yuning, I rank this Xiazi 6/10. Another character that I love as a character, but definitely is not the character from the book. This Xiazi is much too silly and provacative (in the way that he provokes people. not in a sexy way). It feels a little like fanfiction to have him and Yuchen meet like they do, but it's fun.
Sound of Providence 2020 played by Baron Chen, I rank this Xiazi 5/10. I think the storyline might be taking away from it a little bit. I was kind of bored when it was time to watch his story, but as a character he has the same shortcomings as the last one, just a little too silly.
Reunion 2: Mystery of the Abyss 2022 played by Ji Chen, I rank this Xiazi 9/10. All time favorite Xiazi, no contest. I love the more serious take he has on the character. He can joke and be a bit of a dick, but he is also serious and very obviously skilled. He has the mysterious aspect of Xiazi that a lot just touch the surface of. I need to watch Sand Sea so that I can see more of him.
Discussing and rating characters and their different actors in The Lost Tomb franchise
Part 4: Xie Yuchen
The Lost Tomb 2015 played by Edward Zhang, I rank this Yuchen 4/10. Is he like the character at all? No, not really, but he piqued my curiosity about the character and he was mysterious.
Lost Tomb 2 2019 played by Li Xueyi, I rank this Yuchen 7/10. This version of Yuchen showed me that I was right to be interested in him and he is actually pretty close to the book version because he showcases the power of the character relating to his family ability, but it does leave out a lot of interesting things about the character, so I have to dock points.
Ultimate Note 2020 played by Liu Yuhan, I rank this Yuchen 6/10. Now, do I love this character, yes, but he is much more immature feeling than Yuchen is in the book and in the other shows. He does have a lot of Yuchen's details from the books though like his martial arts abilities and his opera singing which is fun.
Reunion 2: Mystery of the Abyss 2022 played by Ji Xiaobing, I rank this Yuchen 8/10. I'm mostly ranking him on the Reunion movie because I didn't get to him in ABTBD, but I LOVE this actor and seeing him play a gentle but tough Yuchen is so good. I like the gentleness, but strength of the character. He is still missing the Opera side of Yuchen and he isn't quite as arrogant, but I like him a lot and with more time I think he would kill it.
I didn't see much of Yuchen in Sound of Providence so I won't rank him.
Discussing and rating characters and their different actors in The Lost Tomb franchise
Part 2: Zhang Qiling
The Lost Tomb 2015 played by Yang Yang, I rank this Qiling 6/10. Played really hard into the edgy, quiet Qiling and didn't have time to give his character much depth.
Lost Tomb 2 2019 played by Cheng Yi, I rank this Qiling 7/10. This was the show that made me love Qiling, but I can see that he smiles a bit too much and is a bit too soft, but he is still fun to watch and shows the caring side of Qiling.
Ultimate Note 2020 played by Xiao Yuliang, I rank this Qiling 10/10. I adore this Qiling. He has so many pieces of Qiling from the book that all get time to shine. The bitchiness, the sweet side, the care, and the awkwardness. So perfect.
Sound of Providence 2020 played by Huang Junjie, I rank this Qiling 8/10. I adore Huang Junjie and I think he played a good character, but he is a little too smiley as Qiling, though I like that it showed that he is more ruthless without Wu Xie than with.
The Lost Tomb 2.5 2021 played by Zhai Dongze, I rank this Qiling 4/10. A little too mean and one dimensional, but did have some good moments.
Conjuring Curse 2023 played by Chen Yesheng, I rank this Qiling 6/10. Honestly I feel like this Qiling and the ABTBD Qiling are very similar, they had the demeanor down, but they didn't have time to show much depth.
Adventure Behind the Bronze Door 2024 played by Zhang Kangle, I rank this Qiling 6/10. He didn't get much time to shine, but I think he had the aura of the character down pat. He wasn't angry or annoyed like some portray him, just quiet and contemplative.
Time Raiders 2025 played by Cheng Xiang, I rate this Qiling 6/10. He hasn't gotten much time to shine yet as they are staying more true to the book so he is missing more often then not, but the actor has potential in my opinion. Another case of needing more time and to be in the right time to showcase the character.
I wrote like eight paragraphs about how I loved your analysis and agreed with it and how you really need to see Sand Sea because it Reunion and Ultimate Note are the holy trinity of DMBJ awesomeness and together all this world building and characterization just kinda clicks into making sense.
And then tumblr ate the entire thing instead of posting it and didn't even leave a draft. I don't feel like rewriting it so please just imagine eight enthusuastic paragraphs of me fangirling wildly at you here.
Discussing and rating characters and their different actors in The Lost Tomb franchise
Part 3: Wang Pangzi
The Lost Tomb 2015 played by Liu Tianzuo, I rank this Pangzi 2/10. I HATE this Pangzi. Not the actors fault, the writing just makes him so annoying and unlikable, which even when Pangzi is annoying in the book, he's still funny and enjoyable, this one... is not.
Lost Tomb 2 2019 played by Zhang Boyu, I rank this Pangzi 6/10. This Pangzi brought me to actually like the character. He was obnoxious at times, but he was funny and I wanted him around. His only shortcoming was he was a little too excitable.
Ultimate Note 2020 played by Cheng Fangxu, I rank this Pangzi 5/10. He was a little more annoying to me, it's a tough line to walk and a tough character to play. He also had the issue of being a little too loud, but I did see him as part of the iron triangle and not just an extra. Also, I don't know why he is a hipster.
Sound of Providence 2020 played by Chen Minghao, I rank this Pangzi 10/10. He may have some flaws, but he is SO lovable, so caring and he can be rude and annoying, but you still want him around all the time. I adore this Pangzi and he is who brings me back to this show honestly.
Conjuring Curse 2023 played by Wang Bowen, I rank this Pangzi 7/10. I actually really like this Pangzi, he gives more annoyed and done with the situation while also caring deeply for his friends, which feels a lot like the books to me. He also just doesn't get a lot of time, but I think he was great.
Time Raiders 2025 played by Sun Ge Chuan Ye, I rank this Pangzi 8/10. He does seem a little too wild at times, but that talk he gave to Wu Xie on the boat about having to decide not to care to protect himself was really good and showcased the character really well. It reminds you that this character is older than Wu Xie and is a bit of a teacher, which a lot of adaptation lose.
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