#lost tomb 2.2

[t-eyla]

do you ever think about the time xiao hua

climbed changbai mountain

found the hidden entrance on the side mountain

abseiled into a dark ice crevasse

made his way through wang canghai's freezing decoy tomb

through a creepy tunnel full of murder centipedes

across the pathway to the main mountain

past the human-faced owls

and more centipedes

into the labyrinth of the cloud sky palace

full of hallucinations that want to kill you

and even more centipedes

in order to show up in a really fashionable black coat and sparkling clean white sneakers and expose wu xie as a liar through a series of leading questions, and then walk away lending last words of sage advice while wu xie is left behind blubbering and calling his name?

because i sure do.

[dmbjexchange]

HeiHua Exchange 2023 Guidelines

With a great deal of thanks and appreciation to @10yearpromise for letting us use their guidelines and instructions here and on AO3!

~~~

Welcome to the HeiHua Exchange 2023! This is a fic and art exchange for the HeiHua (Hei Xiazi/Hei Yanjing and Xiao Hua/Xie Yuchen) ship.

In this exchange, participants will be anonymously matched to create gifts for one another during a six week creating period.

This exchange is open to all the DMBJ canons which feature Hei Xiazi and Xiao Hua (or which they could conceivably be in). It will take place here on AO3, so you need an AO3 account to participate–if you don’t have one, you can request an invitation code here. If there isn’t enough time, no worries - contact the mods on Discord or here on tumblr and we can send you an invitation!

Please read this post carefully before signing up.

Schedule

January 3: Signups open

January 10: Signups close

January 15: Assignments out

March 5: Assignments due

March 12: Works reveals

March 19: Creator reveals & treats deadline

Guidelines

1. Your creation must focus on HeiHua. While background ships are fine (unless listed as a Do Not Want), HeiHua must be the primary focus.

2. You will be expected to create a gift matching your recipient’s request. Filling any specifying prompts is not obligatory, but try to create something you honestly think your recipient will enjoy!

3. You must not include anything that your recipient has listed as a DNW (Do Not Want). Not even as a throwaway reference in a single line.

4. The minimum requirements for the gifts are 300 words for fic or one sketch on unlined paper for art (traditional or digital; no manips).

5. After the matching is done, all the requests will be made visible to everyone to allow for treating! There are no minimum requirements for treats (but remember to mind your recipient’s do not wants!). You can also create manips and fanvids for treats.

6. This is an anonymous exchange: refrain from discussing your assignment in public. After the works are revealed, there’ll be one week anon period when the creators remain anonymous before the creator reveals.

7. If at any point you need to drop out, just click on the “default” button on your AO3 assignment page; we’ll find a pinch hitter to create a gift for your recipient instead. If you need an extension to finish your gift, contact the mods before the deadline.

8. After the reveals, comment on your gift.

9. Most importantly: be excellent to each other!

Sign-up Information

Sign-ups will take place here on AO3, starting on January 3rd. There, you can fill out details about your request and offer. You can edit your sign-up at any time until the sign-ups close on January 9th.

When signing up, you will be able to choose fandom and genre tags, as well as specify any additional details.

You will have to select the DMBJ canon you’re interested in creating and receiving a gift in:

Novels: Daomu Biji / The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles

TV: The Lost Tomb 2: Explore with the Note

TV: The Lost Tomb 2.5: Heavenly Palace on the Clouds

TV: Ultimate Note

TV: Sha Hai

TV: The Lost Tomb Reboot/The Sound of Providence

If you’re interested in a canon that is not currently a tag on AO3, such as the extras or the movie, you can say in your request details that you would like something in one of these canons. Please be aware, though, that the more obscure your request, the harder it will be for your gifter.

This does not mean that you’re limited to requesting or creating a work during the canon timelines for those series/books. It’s just to mark which canons you’re familiar with to allow for easier matching: some participants might have a preference for a particular canon era, some might not be familiar with all the versions. You still have to choose your preferred canon eras even if you want to create or receive an AU.

You will have to specify at least three genres that you’re interested in:

Action/Adventure

Angst

AU

Canon Compliant

Canon Divergent

Dark

Domesticity

Fluff

Humour

Crack

Hurt/Comfort

Porn with Plot (only select this if you’re 18+)

PWP (only select this if you’re 18+)

You will also need to specify at least one rating and and one Archive Warning that you are happy/comfortable with writing and with receiving.

Request

Fandom - you have to choose at least one. If you’re willing to receive a gift in any canon era, you can just click “Any”!

Genre - you have to choose at least three tags.

Ratings - you have to choose at least one. This will help your gifter know what you like and are comfortable with when they're coming up with ideas to fill your prompts.

Warnings - you have to choose at least one. This does not mean that you WILL receive a gift with warnings, it just lets your gifter know if you are comfortable receiving a gift with warnings or not.

Optional Details - here’s where you can go into more detail about your perfect exchange gift!

You can include:

* General Likes: your gifter may, but doesn’t have to, include them. This isn’t a place for detailed prompts, just general themes you enjoy, like getting together or established relationship. * Please note that fics featuring QPRs, ace, and/or aro characters are absolutely valid things to request in a ship exchange. * DNW (Do Not Wants): things that your creator must not include - squicks, triggers, characters or things that you simply don’t like. Remember that you don’t owe anyone an explanation about why something is a DNW, and that DNW are not meant to be taken personally. Just list the things you don’t like, “DNW: X, Y.” * Prompts/specific ideas: if you have any prompts, you can also put them here! You can be as general or as detailed as you’d like, but remember that while your creator will try to make the best gift for you, filling a specific prompt is not obligatory. You can include a crossover prompt (with other DMBJ verse or other canons), but make sure it’s not the only prompt you have.

If you chose novels as one of your fandoms, you can use this field to list the ones you’re familiar with, such as ‘Books 1-4′ , ‘main series only′, ‘main series + specific extras’, etc.

The requests will be made publicly visible after matching is done, so that others will be able to create treats (additional gifts) based on them!

Offer

Fandom - you have to choose at least one. If you can create works for any canon era, you can choose “Any”!

Genre - you have to choose at least three.

Ratings - you have to choose at least one. This will help matching what people are comfortable writing with what people are comfortable receiving.

Warnings - you have to choose at least one. This does not mean that you have to create a gift with warnings, it's just for helping to match what people are comfortable writing with what people are comfortable receiving.

Optional Details - in this field, you can tell us more about the kind of works you like to create, for example if you really prefer established relationship, feel best with certain kinds of AUs, or like writing darkfic. We’ll take it into account when matching! By the same token, if there’s something you really don’t want to write, let us know here as well.

If you chose novels as one of your fandoms, you can use this field to list the ones you’re familiar with, such as ‘Books 1-4′ , ‘main series only′, ‘main series + specific extras’, etc.

In the optional details of your offer, you can also name people you don’t want to be matched to, for example your regular beta, and we will do our best to avoid matching you!

The offers will only ever be visible to the mods; never to anyone else.

Your Assignment

You will be matched to create a gift for someone who requested at least one of the fandoms that you offer, with as many similar genres/likes as possible. This exchange will be hand-matched, with the possible use of AO3’s matching algorithm to first generate the potential matches.

If you have any issues when you receive your assignment (you have a question about it or think there’s an issue with it), contact the mods as soon as possible. Do not contact your recipient on your own.

You will have to create a gift for your recipient, fulfilling the minimum requirements of fandom and genre, and avoiding any stated “do not wants”. If your recipient has not checked particular ratings or archive warnings, your gift must not be that rating or fall under that archive warning. Please make absolutely certain that you have not included or referenced a DNW.

Filling exact prompts is optional, but try to create something matching your recipient’s likes that they will enjoy!

You will have to post your gift to the exchange AO3 collection before the due date (March 5th), using the “gift this work to” option to give it to your recipient. Your work will remain in the collection only visible to you and the mods until the reveals happen. Remember to tag your work appropriately or use the “chose not to warn” warning.

Treating

Treats are additional gifts for the participants! To allow for treating, the requests will be made visible when matching is done. You can create treats at any time until the creator reveals! There are no minimum requirements for treats, and in addition to fic and art, manips and fanvids are also allowed. As with assignments, you must respect the recipient’s Do Not Wants (please ensure that you have double checked that you haven’t even referenced one of them), and while the optional details are optional, try to create something fitting the listed likes. One treat can only be gifted to one person.

Pinch Hits

In case someone needs to drop out, we will look for a pinch hitter to complete their assignment. Pinch hits will be posted to this tumblr and the Yu Cun Discord.

Extensions

If you think you can finish your assignment, but you need a day or two more, you can always ask the mods for an extension!

Multi-chapter Fics

If you are writing a multi-chapter fic for the exchange and don’t want to dro the entire fic at once, these are the posting guidelines for it:

Multi-chapter fics that are assignment fills must be fully written and at least the first chapter posted by the assignment deadline, ready for the fic reveals on March 12.

From March 12, at least one chapter is to be posted daily.

All chapters of the fic must be posted by the time of author reveals and end of treating on March 19 (If the fic is more than 7 chapters long, then this will mean that multiple chapters will need to be posted on some days).

Multi-chapter fics that are treats can begin to be posted at any time before March 19, but must also be fully posted by March 19.

Other Important Information

Make sure to check the email you use on AO3 frequently during the exchange, as it will be the primary means of communication. We might contact you if there is an issue with your sign-up or if your gift creator has a question for you.

If you’d rather we contact you on your twitter or tumblr, please leave your handle in the offer section of your sign-up.

Follow us here to avoid missing an announcement or a deadline!

If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to contact us on Discord or here on tumblr.

[inimitablereel]

What do people call Xie Yuchen?

books

Ultimate Note

Lost Tomb 2 (Explore with the Note)

Lost Tomb 2.2 (Heavenly Palace in the Clouds)

numbers under the cut

With all of these, I manually searched for nicknames containing "Xie" or "Hua", so it's possible I missed some that I didn't spot or are different than expected. Once I'd built that list of names, I've just been running a script to search for them. That means there could be some mistakes where the name comes up but it's about someone else (e.g. little Xie COULD be Wu Xie or Xie Lianhuan, not Xie Yuchen), though I did try to look for outliers. Also, everything is obviously based on someone's translation choices and how much subtitles are even including the nuances of naming - I'm getting the impression that they were fairly detailed so thanks to whoever subtitled these.

If there's some other nicknames you know are used, I can get rerun this script pretty easily (also didn't run other shows/the heihua movie because I don't have subs for it downloaded, but it'd be pretty fast to do if people are curious)

Books:

I pulled these from the Merebear epubs, so this is missing some sidestories etc that aren't in epubs yet. [ETA worth noting that even though this is a mtl, merebear doesn't always 1:1 translate names, so this like everything else is extremely dependent on tl choices]

Xiao Hua:1231 Xie Yuchen:591 Boss Xie:63 Master Hua:60 Pink Shirt: 36 (all in Volume 7 before Wu Xie learns his name lol) Xie Yuhua:18 (written once as jie yuhua) Big Hua:4 (written once as da hua) Xiao Xiejiu:2 little Xie Nine:1 (this might actually just be a footnote translation of Xiao Xiejiu) head of the Xie family:3 A Hua:3 (Pangzi, Xiao Hua doesn't like it) Xie Xiao Hua:1 (also Pangzi) little Xie:10 (didn't make it into my wordcloud oops - probably NOT Xie Lianhuan because I skipped the volumes that don't have Xiao Hua in them, but I didn't check) (no Xie just) Yuchen: 1 (Li Cu apparently)

Bonus: in stories from the rain village Wu Xie makes up a story about "three heroes" which has a character who's "Official Xie"

Ultimate Note:

Just the 36 main episodes, I don't have a separate subtitle file for the extra

Xiao Hua:103 head of the Xie family:1 Master Hua:12 Master Hua'er:86 (this is what Hei Xiazi calls him most of the time) Xie Yu Chen:6 (UN subtitles decided that was two words?)

Lost Tomb 2:

Xie Yuchen:11 Xie Yuhua:13 (split fairly evenly between Xie and Jie - this is all around the arc with his family) head of the Xie family:2 Master Hua:23 Xie Zi:12 (Huo Nainai calls him this) little Xie:7 (Pangzi but not to Xiao Hua's face - this is an overcount because at least 2 of them are actually Xie Lianhuan) Brother Hua:5 (Pretty sure this is Xiuxiu)

Lost Tomb 2.2: I was planning on combining this with lt2 but it is notably different

Xie Yuchen:20 head of the Xie family:1 Master Hua:45 Xie Zi:12

[thelaithlyworm]

Daomu Biji in a Bottle

Since I’ve been posting a lot about the Daomu Biji|Lost Tomb seriesincessantly lately, to a bunch of mutuals I made friends with over such extremely related things as Star Trek and The Musketeers, I thought I’d… make a potted summary? Possibly I’m shilling for new viewers. Come. Join. The water isn’t deep at all…

Book Summary: Wu Xie, a respectable young man and trained architect, is also the descendant of a famous tomb-robber and wants an outing in the family trade. (Say good-bye to a quiet life, Wu Xie.) Adventure + Horror + Comedy + Epic Love Story + what looks like some pretty sincere zen philosophy. If you like epic platonic relationships, this series has your back. If you like epic, slow-burning romances, this series also has your back.  Books are up to around volume 16 I think? Which is a good thing because you’ve got lots to read, right? Right?

It also has a lot of adaptations…

(Note: Audience preferences can be very individual things. I’ve tried to give the vibe of each adaptation and what I think is good and what’s iffy, but honestly? Like what you like and watch what you want, more power to you.)

The Lost Tomb 1: The ‘A Little Clumsy But We’ve Got The Spirit’ adaptation. Wu Xie’s introductory tomb! Clearly on a budget but the scene composition is so nice and most of the characters so crackling I’m not going to sweat the flaccid snake tree or Xiaoge’s Emo Hair. The court drama flashback makes an interesting extension of the ‘unreliable narration’ theme the books love, and they throw in an Action Prologue and Epilogue.

Iffies: Wu Xie is a little mealy-mouthed in this version? The OCs High Jr. and Chastity Chen are frustratingly squeaky, even if they finish the story strong. The Action Epilogue got raided from a later book so it can be startling when you see it again.

The Lost Tomb 2: The ‘Do You Like Extra Content? We Like Extra Content’ adaptation. Covers the trip to the undersea tomb and the weird magic tree in the mountains, but also throws in a truckload of side stories, especially about characters who will become important later like Xie Yuchen, A-Ning, and Cox Hendry, and manages to sneak in some foreshadowing for the end of the main series. Scenery and action scenes are very nice. My favourite Young Wu Xie - so baby, so cute, so cheeky. (Weirdly good at continuity with Lost Tomb 1, down to Pangzi’s slightly grown out version of his LT1 hair.)

Iffies: If you prefer your leads on screen at all times, this is going to be a frustrating watch. The tomb scenes can be a little dark for some display-screens. Ends on a weird cliff-hanger.

The Lost Tomb 2.2 (Heavenly Palace): The ‘Hurt/Comfort’ adaptation. An extra-whumpy version of the first trip up Mt Changbai with, again, some side stories for Xie Yuchen & co. Weirdly out of continuity with Lost Tomb 2, considering it was made by the same production crew, but by this point I have embraced the weirdness. The sets are even more beautiful than for LT2 - lots of Shape and Chiaroscuro. An interesting if angsty relationship arc between Wu Xie and his bff Pangzi. Takes some liberties with the ending, which are rad in-and-of-themselves but mess with continuity for later seasons.

Iffies: Many long sequences of travelling quietly through wilderness spaces which isn’t everyone’s cuppa, I guess. Wu Xie has solid in-story reasons for being a nervy little bitch in this arc (recovering from a traumatic accident) but he’s still a nervy little bitch and not the plucky boy of earlier stories. He’s an acquired taste, is what I’m saying.

Ultimate Note: The ‘Genre Romance’ adaptation. The action scenes and Big Visuals were stripped down harshly, possibly for budget reasons. There are a couple of exceptions like Xinyue Restaurant, but mostly the action is bland connective tissue between shipping scenes and hurrying through the plot. It is definitely good at romance vibes: the leads have good chemistry, they get a lot of face time, the camera is good at picking up their interplay. It’s just weak at the Adventure/Thriller side of the story. If you like the leads on screen at all times, this is the one for you.

Iffies: Watching this after reading the books is a long litany of, ‘it was too much trouble to film this moody scene in the rain like canon so we did it on a sunny day, you don’t mind do you?’, ‘we couldn’t afford wildcats so you get spiders’, ‘that intense, fraught, and beautiful scene with the snake in the underground river was a bit tricky so we replaced it with a tank of shrimp’. Pop-music soundtrack. Nerfs the female characters. Chops out an important plot point - probably to appease the Airing Board tbf, but it doesn’t help story coherency any. 

[The Finale of the main book series is probably unfilmable; Tibetan Sea Flower hasn’t aired yet.]

Time Raiders: The ‘Steampunk AU’ adaptation. Ridiculous and beautiful. Tweaks Wu Xie to be even babier and his noodle-limbed love interest into a Big Buff Guy and I don’t care because they’re so much fun together. Kinda meta? (ie. If you take it as, ‘Series Wu Xie had this made just before Sand Sea’ it makes more sense.)

Iffies: Runs a little long for a movie. Has an ambitious ending which doesn’t quite land. It’s fun along the way, though.

Sand Sea: The ‘Book Plot But Glam’ adaptation, from that time where our plucky little hero Wu Xie has become a jaded and terrifying mob boss on a mission to destroy an ancient illuminati cult. Hooboy. It’s got the big action scenes and sweeping visuals; it’s got dust on the lens; it’s got tender emotional moments; it’s got utter goofballing. Amazing. Superb. Some good fucking food. Fills in gaps implied by the book plot (eg. what’s going on with the Jiumen) and buffs up a few story arcs (for example, the first trip to Gutongjing is considerably more fraught than its book version, and it’s strongly implied that Liang Wan gets laid. Good for her!)

Iffies: None. It’s perfect from start to finish. 

Reunion: The Sound of Providence: The ‘We Rewrote Almost All of the Book Plot’ adaptation. On the one hand, this is telling the story of the protagonist, now middle-aged and facing his mortality and it’s all poignant and touching and fraught and so on. On the other, the producers were trying not to lock out potential new viewers with all the previous continuity. So they did some rewrites - for example, Third Uncle’s time in the South Sea King Tomb now has a similar emotional weight as his time in novel-canon’s Shipwreck Tomb while being completely different in the details, and so forth - you get the vibe but not the continuity. I’d say that approach worked pretty well - this is the entrance point for a lot of fans. That said, it can be a touch confusing if you start here and then go to the earlier stories. Still, it’s a grand time - like Sand Sea it’s a lovely mix of action, angst, goofiness, and heartwarming. Cinematography is v. strong, though runs a little monochrome for my tastes. This is an adaptation that loves minor characters: along with the adventure shenanigans of the leads, key plots turn on the emotional lives and choices of a middle-aged hairdresser and two semi-random mooks. 

Iffies: Maybe two-thirds through Season 1, most of the lead characters disappear off-screen for the rest of the season and the lead gets to know A Whole New Bunch Of People (which can be a little startling). Season 2 blows right past the big climax of the book, then gives the characters a bit of a holiday, then throws them into another smallish adventure that technically ties up some loose ends while also being a bit, ‘Huh?’  (Being a bit ‘Huh?’ is a common feature of these stories.)

The Mystic Nine: The ‘When We Promised You Hijinks We Weren’t Lying But Please Also Ponder The Bittersweetness of Life and Love’ adaptation. This is a prequel centred on Fo-ye, a controversial figure by the standards of ‘the present’ of the series, but right now he’s a fairly uncomplicated hero. Fairly. When a good guy both works for the military while there’s a war on AND is firmly rooted in his city’s criminal underworld there’s a lot of chaos baked into his life. Action and scenery is a bit cartoony but well done cartoony, if that makes sense. There’s fairly tight plotting for about… 16 episodes? (once again, they rob the Xinyue Restaurant) and it’s great times with a train heist, and then the plot gets more discursive and jumpy and wandering. I liked it better the second time when I knew the shape of how things go? For all the tombs and jianghu feuding, a significant amount of time is spent on the Er-ye/Yatou and Fo-ye/Yin Xinyue relationships but I wouldn’t call them romances per se. They’re stories about love. ‘When you find the one who completes you and life is bliss for years but then they get sick and you go a little mad.’ ‘When you find the one who you might dare to open your heart to and it’s amazing! but also you’re a soldier and there’s a war on and they will spend so much time waiting for you…’ Bittersweet, is what I’m saying. 

Comes with four side movies about supporting characters and they are both interesting character studies and hilariously different in tone - Er-ye gets lofty opera vibes, Chen Pi is dirty and nasty and everyone’s horrible, Jiu-ye gets complicated, claustrophobic intrigue, and San-niang gets a deeply sad one about the horrors of the human heart when she’s only 15.

Iffies: As mentioned above, it can get v. discursive and the drama runs long. There are some neat female characters, but most of them don’t get much screen time.

Escape from the Monstrous Snake: the ‘Schlocky B-Movie’ adaptation. Features Hei Xiazi, the half-blind, corny, (very kind), immortal mercenary supporting character and a female OC who has absolutely zero useful skills, a tendency to scream, and relatable motivations. (I love her.) Mostly filmed on a sound-stage, and the version I watched on youtube has slightly dodgy sound. Good pace, good atmosphere, lovely character study of Hei Xiazi.

Iffies: It’s a schlocky B-movie: you get what you get. And Qi Ba and the other female merc didn’t die, no, they uh, they rescued themselves off-screen and then went home and got married…

Grave/Mystery of the Abyss: the ‘Schlocky B-Movie But We Have A Budget’ adaptation. Another reasonably simple monster movie with Hei Xiazi but this time with another recurring character, Xie Yuchen, as the co-lead. And those two go back a way. Whether you want to read that relationship as entirely platonic or ex-lovers, there is so much intimacy and care and regret in how the two characters move around each other it’s breathtaking. The action scenes are both fun in and of themselves and support the love story (how they move around each other taken up to 11).

Iffies: Well… the bugs and body horror can be unsettling? Otherwise, no iffies, it’s perfect of its kind.

Green Mountain Begonia: the ‘Homoerotic Subtext’ adaptation. Set in the Mystic Nine era but made by a different team so the cast and the continuity is a little different. This one covers Fo-ye first coming to Changsha and meeting Er-ye, a young opera-singer/action hero for the first time. It’s very, very pretty but I have trouble warming to it. Maybe its plot is a little fast to get to know the characters? Maybe I’m just too attached to the other M9.

Iffies: Paced a little quick. Well worth a look, though.

[There’s a donghua adaptation of the Qinling God Tree arc, and a manhua currently coming out, but I haven’t seen either. Likewise, the Time Raiders on-line game.]

Honestly, it's all good. Play around and have fun.

[heliological]

this is the most important thing about lost tomb 2.2 jsyk

[thetajinindia02]

3 days golden triangle tour By The Taj In India Company

3 Days Golden Triangle Tour By The Taj In India Company

The Golden Triangle Tour is one of the most popular and fascinating travel circuits in India, covering the three iconic cities of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. If you're short on time but want to experience the best of India's history, culture, and architecture, the 3 Days Golden Triangle Tour organized by The Taj In India Company is the perfect way to explore these gems. This well-curated tour offers a blend of adventure, history, and beauty, providing an unforgettable journey through India’s most beloved landmarks.

Day 1: Exploring Delhi – The Heart of India The tour begins in Delhi, India’s bustling capital city. Known for its rich historical and cultural heritage, Delhi is home to a mix of ancient landmarks and modern marvels. The day starts with a hotel pickup, and your guide will accompany you throughout the journey.

1.1 India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan Your first stop will be at India Gate, a war memorial dedicated to Indian soldiers who lost their lives during World War I. Nearby is the grand Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India. The architecture of this area reflects the grandeur of British-era designs.

1.2 Humayun's Tomb Next, you'll visit Humayun's Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This Mughal monument, built in the 16th century, is a precursor to the Taj Mahal in terms of its garden-tomb architecture.

1.3 Qutub Minar A visit to the Qutub Minar, another UNESCO site, is a must. This towering minaret is one of the tallest brick structures in the world and a prime example of Indo-Islamic architecture.

1.4 Lotus Temple The last stop in Delhi is the Lotus Temple, a serene Baháʼí House of Worship. Its lotus-like shape and peaceful ambiance make it a relaxing place to end your day in Delhi.

After a full day of sightseeing, you'll head to Agra for an overnight stay.

Day 2: Discovering Agra – The City of the Taj On the second day, you'll explore Agra, home to the majestic Taj Mahal. This day will be packed with history, romance, and architectural beauty.

2.1 Sunrise at the Taj Mahal Your day begins early with a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is renowned for its stunning white marble architecture and intricate inlay work. The early morning light enhances the beauty of the monument, making it a picture-perfect moment.

2.2 Agra Fort After exploring the Taj Mahal, you'll visit the Agra Fort, a massive red sandstone fort that was once the primary residence of the Mughal emperors. The fort’s courtyards, palaces, and mosques showcase Mughal architectural brilliance, and from some parts of the fort, you can enjoy a distant view of the Taj Mahal.

2.3 Itimad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj) Often referred to as the Baby Taj, the Itimad-ud-Daulah is a beautiful mausoleum that predates the Taj Mahal and is considered a draft of the famous monument. Its intricate marble work is a sight to behold.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you will travel to Jaipur, the Pink City, for an overnight stay.

Day 3: Exploring Jaipur – The Pink City The third day of your tour is dedicated to Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, known for its royal palaces, vibrant markets, and majestic forts.

3.1 Amber Fort Your day begins with a visit to the Amber Fort, located on a hilltop just outside Jaipur. The fort is a magnificent blend of Hindu and Mughal architecture, with stunning views of Maota Lake. You can either hike up to the fort or take an elephant ride for a traditional experience.

3.2 City Palace Next, you'll explore the City Palace, a beautiful palace complex that still serves as the residence of Jaipur's royal family. The palace features courtyards, museums, and gardens, and offers a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the Rajput kings.

3.3 Hawa Mahal Known as the Palace of Winds, the Hawa Mahal is one of Jaipur’s most famous landmarks. This five-story structure, with its distinctive honeycomb design, was built so that royal women could observe street festivals without being seen.

3.4 Jantar Mantar The final stop in Jaipur is the Jantar Mantar, an ancient astronomical observatory and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It houses the world’s largest stone sundial and showcases the scientific advancements of the Rajput era.

Return to Delhi After your tour of Jaipur, you'll begin your journey back to Delhi in the evening. The drive takes approximately 5-6 hours, and by the end of the day, you'll be dropped off at your hotel or preferred location in Delhi, concluding your Golden Triangle Tour.

Benefits of the 3 Days Golden Triangle Tour Time-efficient exploration: Cover Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur in just three days while experiencing the top landmarks. Comfortable travel: Enjoy air-conditioned transportation and a knowledgeable guide throughout the tour. Cultural immersion: Gain a deep understanding of India’s Mughal and Rajput history, architecture, and culture. Conclusion The 3 Days Golden Triangle Tour by The Taj In India Company is an ideal way to experience India’s cultural richness and architectural wonders in a short time. From the bustling streets of Delhi to the majestic Taj Mahal in Agra and the royal palaces of Jaipur, this tour is perfect for travelers looking to experience the best of India in just three days. With expert guides, comfortable transportation, and personalized service, you’re guaranteed an enriching and memorable experience.

FAQs

How long is the Golden Triangle route? The total distance covered in the Golden Triangle tour is approximately 720 kilometers, with travel time split across three days.

Can the tour be customized? Yes, The Taj In India Company offers customizable itineraries to suit your preferences, including additional stops or extended stays.

What is the best time to take this tour? The best time for this tour is during the cooler months, from October to March, when the weather is pleasant for sightseeing.

Are meals included in the tour? Meals are not typically included, but lunch stops are arranged at local restaurants where you can enjoy Indian cuisine.

What should I wear during the tour? Comfortable, light clothing and walking shoes are recommended, especially for exploring monuments and forts.

[katamaricule]

...You know, I've put a fair amount of thought into which series you should start with, such that I've never actually considered, once you've started, which one should come next?

Going off your suggested order, I would propose the following:

Reunion: Like 90% of us started there anyway, so go for it. This should give you a good sense of the character/world basics, so you can rewind a decade to...

Lost Tomb 2: Meet them as babies! See how they all got together! Get the necessary backstory for a particular thing that will help make a lot more sense of...

Ultimate Note: Knowing the characters beforehand does make a couple of the emotional beats hit harder (or at all). This should also give you enough of a sense of the Jiumen Association that it's meaningful to flash back to...

Mystic Nine: You know all those legendary predecessors everybody's been talking about? See them in action! They're complete dipshits! And that gets you enough information about several characters (one in particular) to hit you real hard with...

Sand Sea: Now you have all the pieces you need for squealing and pointing excitedly at the screen when certain characters, actors, and set pieces appear. Enjoy.

Once you're done with all that, you can go back and pick up whatever other pieces you want of the other series, and feel zero bad about fast-forwarding through tedious sections. Or not! It all depends on what your ideal gem-to-junk tolerance ratio is. Both the first series and 2.2 do have good moments in them. They also have a lot of garbage. You make the call.

There are also several side-story movies (and things that pretend they're series but are actually movies chopped up into five-minute segments). Just go ahead and watch them all! A 90-minute movie is a whole lot less of a commitment than a 30-episode series. They range from profoundly mediocre to absolutely amazing. Nearly all of them are connected to specific series, so you can watch batches of them when you're done with the series in question.

This is, however, just my take on it! As the notes on this post suggest, many people disagree! That's okay! We're all here and we're all friends. And none of us know how snakes work.

What is dmbj? I've googled it but idk if it's one of those 'I love it and recommend it' shows or a 'I love it - pls never watch it <3' kinda show yk lol

Is there an answer somewhere in the middle? Because that's where it should go.

DMBJ is a franchise based on a set of novels by an author we'll call NPSS. These are mostly first-person tales narrated by a spoiled little dipshit named Wu Xie, as he and his friends go on tomb-raiding adventures, encounter supernatural obstacles, and learn about all the ways snakes don't work. The series has several giant holes in it, as NPSS tends to get bored and wander off mid-story. Several dramas and movies have tried to adapt various pieces of this gap-ridden, wholly unresolved saga, to varying degrees of success.

So to answer your question: There are installments of DMBJ that are a hoot that you should watch, and then there are installments of DMBJ that are also a hoot but you shouldn't watch before you have an affection for the franchise as a whole, and then there are installments of DMBJ that you should not watch even if you are a fan of the franchise because they are just not worth your time.

The problem is, not everybody agrees on what goes in which category. But if you're interested and want to give it a go, these are my personal takes on what's what, in chronological order of events as they happen in the series:

The Mystic Nine

Good starting place: Yeah, actually!

Requires prior knowledge: Nope

Actual ending: No resolution whatsoever

Wu Xie: He's not in this one

Best part: Charming characters you love or love to hate

Warning: Very cheaply produced, with cuts that render significant parts of the story incoherent

Worth watching: Yes, if you're willing to accept the jankiness

The Lost Tomb

Good starting place: Weirdly, no, considering that it's the first series they made

Requires prior knowledge: Not really

Actual ending: Oh, heavens no

Wu Xie: Cardboard twerp, kinda cute

Best part: There's ... some antics, I guess?

Warning: Makes some bizarre additions, condenses several books, just ... isn't very good

Worth watching: Not especially

The Lost Tomb 2

Good starting place: You could do worse

Requires prior knowledge: Some, but who knows if it helps?

Actual ending: Ha ha ha you're funny

Wu Xie: Breathtaking idiot twink street-parking a Maserati

Best part: Wu Xie and Pangzi are in love

Warning: Interminable bronze tree plotline, incomprehensible timeline especially at the ending

Worth watching: Sure, but bring a book for the long stretches

The Lost Tomb 2: Explore With the Note

Good starting place: It doesn't matter, because you're not going to watch this one

Requires prior knowledge: It can't save you

Actual ending: Nothing of the sort

Wu Xie: Shove that whiny nerd in a locker

Best part: There is no best part

Warning: Don't do this to yourself

Worth watching: What do you think

Ultimate Note

Good starting place: It seems like no at first, but it actually is!

Requires prior knowledge: It helps, but you can get by without it

Actual ending: Complete cliffhanger

Wu Xie: Precious muffin

Best part: Everyone is so cute, also heihua

Warning: Tonally way goofier than the other series

Worth watching: Yes! This one's so fun

Tomb of the Sea/Sand Sea

Good starting place: If you like things on Hard Mode

Requires prior knowledge: The main character doesn't have any, so why should you?

Actual ending: It thinks it does, but it's stupid and slapdash and leaves a million loose ends

Wu Xie: Mafia widow (also he's not the main character)

Best part: Seeing from the outside how fucked-up the whole Tomb Raiding Industrial Complex is

Warning: A hot mess, but occasionally a beautiful one

Worth watching: Yes, but maybe save it for later

Reunion: The Sound of the Providence

Good starting place: Shockingly, yes

Requires prior knowledge: No, though it recontextualizes everything once you know more

Actual ending: Yes! Holy shit! We got an ending here!

Wu Xie: Consumptive angel with a gun

Best part: Some truly impressive performances from Actual Actors, Wu Xie and Pangzi are married

Warning: Honestly, just watch this one first so you don't know what you're missing, because once you do, you can't unsee it

Worth watching: Definitely

I hope that ... helps? Or at least doesn't make your confusion worse?

[januaryisnotanartist]

Some% of the lost Tomb Franchise in 80 Pictures... because I’m trying? to break? something?

Lost Tomb 📷 x10

Lost Tomb 2 📷 x 20

Lost Tomb 2.2 - The Dimmer Timeline 📷 x30

Ultimate Note 📷 x40

Tomb of the Sea | Sand Sea 📷 x60

Xiazi’s Horrible Camping Trip 📷 x70

Reunion: the Sound of the Provenance | Lost Tomb reboot 📷 x80

[thetombraidersguild]

Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling Week

That’s right everyone! March 7th to March 13th is Pingxie Week!

Wu Xie and Zhang Qiling (Xiaoge) have a special connection, there is no denying that... so lets enjoy the love these two share.

You can find all if your Pingxie Prompts here!

~Kai

[randomtwinkinthetomb]

*during the hotel fight.*

Wu Xie: It's been a long time since the three of us did something like this, huh?

Pangzi: Do you mean fighting side by side, or running for our lives?

Wu Xie: Both!

Xiaoge: We clearly do this all the time.

Wu Xie: Really?!

[moonlightfilly]

Wu Xie moves quick to get those digits but Xiao Ge already has his~

[kolachess]

In case folks didn’t know, The Lost Tomb 2.2 (poorly subtitled ‘Explore with the Note’, but really should just be ‘Cloud Top Heavenly Palace’ or something) is out!

And alright, it’s definitely more in line with The Lost Tomb 2 production style / level, so it’s a bit of a step down from Ultimate Note. The script was quite abysmal to start, resulting in weird lines and acting, but it did get better.

In any case, I do think this moment was cute though! This is more in line with the casual / subtle but still believable things Xiaoge does that has me squealing. 

I like how Xiaoge is like ‘If I just hold my arm out, he’ll be OK’ and Wu Xie likewise is like ‘If I just hold onto his arm, I’ll be OK’. Okaaay, you two.

(Green bars are a software bug but I’m too lazy to care.)

[inimitablereel]

made a thing about A Ning (blorbo from my tombs)

also on ao3

[thelaithlyworm]

Heavenly Palace in the Clouds: The Loot Room

[ID A dark hall full of piles of golden taels and vessels. In the background two small figures enter, the light from their torches brightly illuminating some of the gold. End ID]

[ID A bronze dragon twining around a pillar above the the heaped gold. The light from a background figure’s torch strikes a brilliant chiaroscuro over its edges. End ID]

[ID A close-up of the coiled pillar-dragon, showing the intricate curves and detailing, and its goofy snout End ID]

[ID The character Wang Pangzi sprawled on a heap of gold and pearls, his expression blissful. End ID]

I am consistently blown away by the detail of the sets and the depth of frame the camera and lighting teams used in filming. They really knew their trade, and I hope their careers are going well.

(Also, Pangzi looks v. pretty when accessorised with gold. I’m just saying.)

EDIT:

Ohhh... that’s clever. Look how dark the room is in the first frame, and how well-lit Wang Pangzi is in his Big Happy Sprawl. That’s not diegetic - they didn’t light any wall-sconces or anything. They kept the set dark while they were making the Big Entrance and telling the audience what it was really like, then quietly raised the lights a bit so we could see what the characters were doing easily.

Well-played.

[heliological]

yelling screaming crying etc

[foxofninetales]

Entry points for watching  DMBJ / The Lost Tomb

The Lost Tomb series, based on the Daomu Biji series of books, is a sprawling multi-adaptation franchise.  It can be very confusing to figure out what order to watch the shows in, which can be compounded by the fact that, depending on your tastes, the chronological order might not be the best order to get you hooked.  This post highlights some likely entry points for getting into this series and their pros and cons, so you can decide which might work best for you!

Note that another obvious point of entry into the DMBJ universe is the book series that all these adaptations are based on!  ( @laireshi​ has an intro guide to the books here.) There is also a donghua adaptation is you prefer animated series.  However, this guide is specifically focused on live action screen adaptations.  There are also several spinoff/side story movies, but as most of those make very little sense even to hardened DMBJ fans, I only recommend a few of those as possible entry points.

Here is a list of the current finished main adaptations, in story chronological order.  Possible recommended entry points are starred.

***The Mystic Nine - 2016, 48 episodes

***Time Raiders - 2016, 2 hours

***The Lost Tomb (aka, The Lost Tomb 1) - 2015, 10 episodes

The Lost Tomb 2 – 2019, 40 episodes

The Lost Tomb 2: Explore With The Note (aka The Lost Tomb 2.2 aka The Lost Tomb 2.5) – 2021, 24 episodes

***Ultimate Note – 2020, 37 episodes

Adventure Behind the Bronze Door (aka Tibetan Sea Flower) 2024, 32 episodes

***Tomb of the Sea (aka Sand Sea aka Sha Hai) – 2018, 52 episodes

***Reunion: The Sound of Providence seasons 1 and 2 (aka The Lost Tomb Reboot) – 2020, 62 episodes total

***Side story movie Mystery of the Abyss (aka The HeiHua Movie) - 2022, 2 hours

***Side story movies Conjuring Curse (2023, 1 hr 45 min) and Misty Creed (2023, 1 hr 30 min)

Under the cut:  Why you should (and shouldn’t!) start with each of the starred adaptations! 

The various Lost Tomb dramas are based on a series of books called Daomu Biji / The Grave Robber’s Chronicles by Nanpai Sanshu (NPSS).  Most of the drama adaptations (everything except Mystic Nine) tell the story of Wu Xie, young heir to a wealthy tomb-raiding family, as he goes on tomb-raiding adventures, deals with mob-style politics with other tomb-raiding families, and tries to unearth the family secrets that darken the past and threaten his future and the futures of those he cares about. 

Part of why it can be confusing to enter the Lost Tomb universe is that all these adaptations are part of one long ongoing story that takes place over a span of 15ish years.  The dramas have been filmed in somewhat random order with different production companies and different casts, and the transition between the various parts is not always smooth.  On the plus side, this means that there are multiple different entry points available to the series depending on what takes your fancy!

Some useful links for those venturing into the pits:

Character charts by Snowy - No spoilers beyond the presence or absence of a character in various adaptations. Very useful for keeping track of who is who.

Daomu Biji/Grave Robbers’ Chronicles Timeline by margrave - Though this is based on the book series and some plot points changed in the adaptations, the overall story is basically the same. Spoileriffic, obviously, but if you are confused it can be helpful for figuring out how everything ties together.  The “main series” timeline starts in 2003. 

Daomu Biji Novel Summaries by Strictly Bromance - An even more detailed guide to the events of the novels.

Daomu Biji Read/Watch Order by Strictly Bromance - A guide to the chronological order for the books and various adaptations.  A useful overview to the main media in this franchise.

Mystic Nine

What it’s about:  These are the adventures of the “Nine Gates”, an association of tomb-raiding families who are the ancestors of the modern characters, in the early 20th century.

Why start here:  You want to start at the chronological beginning. You like Republican-era dramas.  You read the Silmarillion before the Lord of the Rings.  Your favorite thing is being able to spot easter-egg references in a franchise.

Why not start here:  Though it provides interesting context and backstory, it is not directly related to the main DMBJ plot. It also makes possibly even less coherent sense than most DMBJ stories.

Mood:  Mix of adventure and scheming, much more lighthearted than most Republican dramas.

Pacing:  Fairly steady, but on the slower side, somewhat padded by repetitive adventures.

Does it have an ending: No - some plots are wrapped up, but others are left wide open.

Iron Triangle flavor: The Iron Triangle (Zhang QIling, Wu Xie, and Pangzi) are the three main characters of the main DMBJ series. They are not present in this adaptation.

Watch this adaptation if you want to know why a mutual is obsessing over: People with “ye” at the end of their names. Chinese opera singers.  Vintage-military-uniformed guys. Baby pyromaniacs

Watch the trailer here

  Time Raiders

What it’s about:  This is a one-off movie that is roughly based on Wu Xie’s  first adventure (which was also adapted separately for TV as The Lost Tomb).  It is basically a steampunk AU of the actual story.

Why start here: At only 2 hours, it’s a very small time commitment.  Despite being something of an AU, it introduces a lot of the basic DMBJ concepts and characters.  If you like bonkers adventure movies, it’s a good time regardless of the rest of the series.

Why not start here: Again, it’s kind of an AU, so everything is slightly off from the rest of the series.  Very, very bonkers.

Mood: Over-the-top adventure

Pacing: Very fast

Does it have an ending: Yes, the section of DMBJ plot covered by the movie is largely wrapped up.

Iron Triangle flavor:

Zhang Qiling: Brooding, but also surprisingly smiley

Wu Xie: Sweet, charming

Pangzi: Hardened adventurer and comic relief

Watch this adaptation if you want to know why a mutual is obsessing over: Attack beetles.

Watch the trailer here

The Lost Tomb

What it’s about: Fresh-from-college Wu Xie goes on an exciting tomb-exploring adventure with his favorite uncle.

Why start here:  It’s the chronological beginning and you’ll meet the characters as they meet each other.  Short and fast-paced, can be watched quite quickly.  Xiaoge/Wu Xie soulmates speedrun.  If you can handle RTD-era Doctor Who, you’ll be just fine here; if you like classic Doctor Who, you’ll love it.

Why not start here:  If you expect a deeply serious drama you are going to be very disappointed.  The budget is nonexistent.  Not good if you are traumatized by emo hair.  

Pacing:  Short and fast-moving.  SPECIAL NOTE: There are two versions of TLT1, a 10-episode version and a 12-episode version.  The 12-episode version fills in more lore and gives a little more grounding for some of the character actions, but I actually recommend the 10-episode version instead, as IMHO the faster pacing fits the mood of this adaption better.

Mood:  Fun, adventurous, classic “archaeology” action movie vibes

Does it have an ending: No, it just stops mid-action. Also you will be very confused by the last few episodes because they chronologically don’t belong there and were pasted-on-yay from later in the books.  HOWEVER if desired you can stop at episode 8 timestamp 16:00 (of the 10-episode version), which is the end of the main adventure - this will give you a much more logical stopping place and avoid the confusion of the pasted-on episodes.

Iron Triangle flavor:

Zhang Qiling:  Ultimate emo man of mystery

Wu Xie: Wet-behind-the-ears naïve puppy

Pangzi: I just wanted to rob a tomb and make money, but I found this puppy and it is mine now.

Watch this adaptation if you want to know why a mutual is obsessing over: A shirtless tattooed guy with emo hair who keeps rescuing a twink. Whatever the heck is a “PingXie” is (see also Ultimate Note and Reunion).

Watch the trailer here

The Lost Tomb 2

Not recommended as an entry point largely because if you're going to start the story this early, you may as well go back a dozen episodes and start at the beginning with The Lost Tomb.  That said, if you are struggling with TLT1, TLT2 is a solid drama that, while not as showy as some of the later dramas, can make an easy and understandable entry point.  (Note that there are two dramas titled The Lost Tomb 2 - this is the 2019 drama starring Hou Minghao.)

The Lost Tomb 2: Explore With the Note

Not recommended as an entry point due to the high amount of backstory knowledge required and lack of any attempt to recap or ease you into the story.  (Note that there are two dramas titled The Lost Tomb 2 - this is the 2021 drama starring Bai Shu.)

Ultimate Note

What it’s about: As he continues his adventures in tomb-robbing, Wu Xie uncovers darker secrets from his and Zhang Qiling’s past and finds himself caught in a far-reaching conspiracy.

Why start here:  Strong pacing and high production values - probably the glossiest and most polished of the adaptations.  A quick intro segment brings you up-to-speed on the basics of the preceding plot. Many emotional moments between characters where you can see bonds forming.  The plot is comparatively coherent (compared to the rest of DMBJ).

Why not start here:  You are Old and have trouble taking Tombraider: The Muppet Babies Version seriously. 

Mood:  Increasingly angsty adventure mixed with finding out dark family secrets

Pacing: Fast-paced, lots of quick cuts, the most millennial-style editing of the adaptations - doesn’t spend much time drawing breath before charging forward

Does it have an ending: No. It ends with some characters in a cliffhanger situation and another stage of the adventure about to begin, but the end point is in a lull between action.

Iron Triangle flavor:

Zhang Qiling: Highly whumpable, needs a hug

Wu Xie: Still clueless but more experienced, rapidly losing his naivety

Pangzi:  Oh no, I have two puppies now

Watch this adaptation if you want to know why a mutual is obsessing over: A shirtless tattooed guy without emo hair who keeps rescuing a twink.  A pink and black power couple. A trash panda.  Whatever the heck a “HeiHua” is.

Watch the trailer here

Adventure Behind the Bronze Door

Not recommended as an entry point due to the high amount of backstory knowledge required and how intensely the emotional beats rely on that knowledge.

Tomb of the Sea

What it’s about: High-school student Li Cu is the victim of a shocking attack which leads to him being swept up in a desert adventure when he is kidnapped by a mysterious man named Wu Xie.

Why start here: You will have absolutely no idea what’s going on but neither does the POV character, so oddly it works.  You like stories in which the hero has to become almost as bad as the villain to take them down. You like to start your stories at the end record-scratch style and then see how you got here.  The best cinematography of the entire franchise.

Why not start here: YOU DON’T LIKE SPOILERS.  You like your adventures more lighthearted.  You want your Zhang Qiling physical rather than metaphorical.  At 52 episodes is a distinct commitment.

Mood: Tense adventure mixed with mob-style machinations, darker than most of the other DMBJ adaptations.

Pacing: Well-paced adventure that moves at a good rate, with interludes of high school drama and romantic comedy.

Does it have an ending: Yes, this actually wraps up the majority of the storyline from this and all of the previous adaptations.

Iron Triangle flavor:

Zhang Qiling: 404 error, file not found

Wu Xie: Mob widow

Pangzi: DILF

Watch this adaptation if you want to know why a mutual is obsessing over: Middle-aged guys who are not having a good time but look amazing doing it. A guy in sunglasses with a jaw that could cut glass. A completely different shirtless tattooed guy.

Watch the trailer here

Reunion: The Sound of Providence

What it’s about: Several years after the ending of the main adventure series, a retired Wu Xie is faced with bad news and an unexpected clue and sets out on one last adventure.

Why start here:  You’re a Zhu Yilong fan.  You prefer overall older casts and are excited by the prospect of Mid-Life Crisis: Tombraider Style.  Strong bonds between characters who have known each other for years. High budget with good sets and a great soundtrack. SO MUCH WHUMP.

Why not start here: “Uneven” does not even begin to describe the pacing. At 62 episodes, is the biggest commitment of the whole franchise. Though the overall plot does not really tie to the previous events of the franchise, it assumes familiarity with the characters.

Mood: Adventure mixed with the realities of aging, mob-style politics, strong found-family vibes

Pacing:  VERY uneven.  Season 1 starts fast-paced, then there is a long very slow middle portion with a lot of padding before the action picks up again mid-season-2. 

Does it have an ending: Yes, the story is completely wrapped up at the end.

Iron Triangle flavor:

Zhang Qiling:  So soft.  So silently concerned. So woefully absent much of the series

Wu Xie: Consumptive bastard and charming with it

Pangzi:  We’ve been married for twenty years now

Watch this adaptation if you want to know why a mutual is obsessing over: A shirtless tattooed guy who keeps rescuing Zhu Yilong. A man who wears Hello Kitty shirts. A longhaired twit in glasses.

Watch the trailer here

Mystery of the Abyss

What it’s about: This is a side-story movie set soon after Reunion: The Sound of Providence. It focuses on the characters Hei Xiazi and Xie Yuchen as they fight an ancient tentacle god-monster in an effort to save Hei Xiazi’s sight.

Why start here: At 2 hours long, it’s bite-size intro to the overall type of thing to expect from a DMBJ series that requires no backstory to enjoy.  A fun action/adventure movie on its own merits. If you want to watch two mature men somehow be devotedly married AND exes at the same time (while covered in tentacles) look no further.

Why not start here: Has very little to do with the main series.

Mood: Solid adventure mixed with so much staring into each other’s eyes. This whole movie is basically soulful staring with brief breaks for a word from our sponsor, TENTACLES.

Pacing: Typical action movie pacing with brief emotional interludes.

Does it have an ending: Yes, this side story is completely wrapped up at the end.

Iron Triangle flavor: The Iron Triangle is not present in this adaptation.

Watch this adaptation if you want to know why a mutual is obsessing over: Whatever a HeiHua is.

(If you like this movie and want more mature tomb-raiders shenanigans, you might try Reunion: The Sound of Providence next.  If you want to see more of Hei Xiazi and Xie Yuchen at the beginning of their relationship, you might try Ultimate Note.)

At the moment, the entire movie is free (with subs) on Youtube here.

Conjuring Curse and Misty Creed

What it’s about: These are two movies featuring the Iron Triangle that each tell a complete, one-off story of a single adventure.  While they are technically set after all the other series, those references are very small and should not cause confusion or spoil what happened before. 

Why start here: Require minimal knowledge (basically the identities of the main three characters and that they are tombraiders) and no backstory to enjoy.  A quick way to meet the Iron Triangle and get a feel for the kind of stories that are told in DMBJ.  Also a good way to get a feel for the level of scares and ick that you may encounter.  Fun tomb-raiding action movies on their own merits.

Why not start here:  These movies are very much focused on the adventure story and don’t focus as much on the emotional beats of the relationships between the characters, so you may not understand as much what the fuss is about.

Mood: Nonstop tomb-raiding adventures

Pacing:  Fast-paced

Does it have an ending: Yes

Iron Triangle flavor: Three friends having a fun day out (for an OW! and AHHHH! value of fun)

Watch this adaptation if you want to know why a mutual is obsessing over: The Iron Triangle, DMBJ in general

At the moment, both movies are free to watch (with subs) on Youtube:

Conjuring Curse

Misty Creed

Did one of these catch your fancy?  Check out the MyDramaList guide for more details on the shows and where to watch them, and welcome to the Pits!