#west out of the yumen

[xiaolanhua]

Parallel World 西出玉门 (2023) Dir. Su Chao Bin – Ep. 18

[gavilansblog]

So a few months ago, I watched this show called Parallel World, because it had Bai Yu and I was in Guardian withdrawal, and @programmedradly (and the rest of the Guardian server) said I should. And I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. The blorbos have consumed me. I recorded my first ever explicit podfic for this fandom. I am thoroughly obsessed.

And so I turned my obsession into a graphic design project. Please enjoy this gif-filled propaganda for why everyone should watch Parallel World. It has SO MANY THINGS that fandom loves! Traumatized men. Chaos gremlins. Found family. Actual functional communication. Tropes done sincerely. Badass women. Pretty people. Actors with chemistry. Devotion. Whump. Seriously there are so many amazing things in this show, please come watch it and squee with me!

Trailer, interviews and more here!

Watch on YouTube Watch on Viki Watch on kisskh

Check out the fandom on Ao3!

Gifs sourced from here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here

[01432853]

Ni Ni as Ye Liu Xi in WEST OUT OF YUMEN (2023) • EP 17

for @theworldisabrokenbonebutitishome ♡

[heymeowmao]

Bai Yu performs 狂風襲來 (Fierce Wind Raid) - West Out of the Yumen/Parallel World OST at the 2024 China Online Audiovisual Annual Ceremony

[neviayue]

consolation | By Nevi Ayu E.

"You must've felt even more sad back then..."

"You're the first person to comfort me."

[dramaaddict]

"Liuxi, as long as I can get a hold of you, I won't let go." | West Out of The Yu Men

[fandoestrans]

[ENG SUB] Bai Yu interview for 'Parallel World'!

Bai Yu talks about filming experience (complains about the wind for the 3826294734th time), how it was like working and laughing with Ni Ni, and Chang Dong's characterisation

YouTube: https://youtu.be/g09WhZFE0rg?si=VtNWehnE9xl2OoTM

[lostinadrama]

𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧 / 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 (2023)

[convenientalias]

West Out of Yu Men/Parallel World Review

Bc I just finished watching it yesterday!

I really liked it :D

I think it had a very unique aesthetic. It's set in the desert or in cities located near the desert for the most part, and you really feel it. The characters don't always look like they're hot, but there's always a dry, gritty feeling to the air. The fashion, tooo, was pretty unique. Ye Liuxi is very rough and tumble action girl with a little bit of sexy thrown in; Chang Dong mostly dresses kind of generic, practical and understated; Ding Liu dresses kind of cutesy-garish, loosening up both in attitude and in fashion as the show progresses; and then everyone in the parallel world dresses like they're in some historical fantasy with a touch of apocalyptic. So that's all just fun to watch. I love when a show has a unique visual feel to it.

In terms of plot, the show is a little wandering and not super tight, but that makes sense for a show about two characters both investigating a mystery and traveling through a different world. It's about discovery, meeting people and seeing wonders--eventually with some political intrigue as well. I honestly wish it could have been a little longer. Give it another five episodes, and I think we could have tied up some loose ends and gotten a more satisfying ending for a couple characters (specifically I'm thinking of Gao Shen and Jiang Zhan, but even Liuxi... well, I could watch several hours more of just Liuxi lols).

The acting was all pretty good. I have to admit I was not equally invested in all characters. This is definitely the Ye Liuxi show. Everyone else can be as cool and complex as they want, but we're all here to watch Ni Ni beat people up, open up portals, drive through the desert, cut melons, flirt obnoxiously, make threats, and so on and so forth. Previously I had only seen Ni Ni in The Rise of Phoenixes, and she's good in that but more of a trickster character, clever but not exactly intimidating. I love seeing an actress in a role where she's really allowed to dominate everyone around her, and I hadn't known Ni Ni would be so good at that. Now I want to finish watching The Rise of Phoenixes at some point but I don't know if I'll feel disappointed seeing her in a role that's less absolutely tyrannical.

The other lead actor is of course Bai Yu.

Tumblrites probably know him as Guardian's Zhao Yunlan, which is also where I first saw him. In this show he's much more subdued and serious, which I think is necessary to counter such a powerful presence as Ni Ni's Liuxi. He and Ni Ni have great chemistry. It's less sexy and flirty, and more familiar and comfortable, though slow-won. There's one scene where Liuxi pokes a brooding Chang Dong with a stick until he takes the end of it, and when he lets go of it she pokes him until he holds it again, and they just sit together in silence. For me, that's kind of what their relationship is about. They understand each other and offer each other comfort and support. At the same time, they have a strong sense of physicality for a cdrama. Again, not necessarily in a sexual way, but Liuxi is the kind of person who will just drape herself on someone, hook an arm over their shoulder, rub legs like an obnoxious and kind of sexy cat... it adds to the warmth of their relationship. (Though I would also have been fine seeing the two remain platonic, but as ships go, it's rather nice.)

That said. This show also had a couple ships it did not need! Gao Shen/Ding Liu is okay but underdeveloped and kind of just background noise; Fei Tang/A He is where I enter "okay, so now you just need to pair up EVERYONE" territory. None of the ships were annoying exactly, but apart from Liuxi/Chang Dong, I just feel like you could have left them out and you wouldn't lose much. If you're going to include them, give them some damn development! That's all I can say on the matter.

I enjoyed the villains a lot. There's a variety here: Some typical shady bureaucrats, a scheming woman to serve as Liuxi's foil and rival, and a man from Liuxi's past who has a complicated relationship with her. My favorite was the last of these three, Jiang Zhan! And I won't give more spoilers than that but can I just say: Jiang Zhan deserved better!!! Will someone please write hurt-comfort fic for my boy!!

Anyway! I recommend West Out of Yu Men if:

-You like Ni Ni or Bai Yu and want to see them doing something a bit different.

-You would be interested in an atmosphere of urban fantasy meets desert epic.

-You want to see a woman playing the amnesiac "chosen one" warrior trope (and with flair).

-You like to see an ensemble go on a road trip, gathering members along the way and getting into magical shenanigans. (If you HATE road trips, though--not a reason to skip. Travel is an aspect but there's still plenty of plot to go around.)

-You want to see Ni Ni cut a melon with a big knife (you can get this in episode one. Just one episode to appreciate the glorious THUNK of a melon being cut with a large knife).

You can also watch it if you want to write fanfic for it to satisfy my current cravings for 1) femslash and 2) anything about Jiang Zhan. (I haven't talked about the possible femslash ships bc they are pretty much my imagination but Ding Liu is very cutesy and friendly with Liuxi and also that female villain I was talking about above HATES Liuxi in a way that is quite fun, so. There's that.)

Now I have to find another badass woman show to satisfy that particular mood. If you have any recs along those lines, let me know ;)

[baiyubai]

hello Chang Dong

[silviakundera]

the otp's dynamic in Parallel World/West of Yumen has me shouting. this poor depressed man who was hiding from the world after his failure as a desert guide got 18 people including his fiancé killed, and just wants to find their bodies, is partnered with a beautiful amnesiac agent of chaos whose solution to everything is apathy or violence.

"What were you going to cut with the knife right now?"

"It's to save you."

"I know you're trying to save me. Let me ask you: were you trying to cut my leg or the sand?"

"It depends on the situation."

"What?....

Liuxi, let's make it clear right now. If we encounter a similar situation again, please try your best to keep my body parts intact.

You shouldn't make decisions about my arms, legs, or any other body part unless I ask for it. Is that clear?"

[xiaolanhua]

Parallel World 西出玉门 (2023) Dir. by Su Chao Bin – Ep. 23

[natstarbuck]

'But if I have to be connected to someone in this world, and if you're that person, I guess I can accept it.'

'Let's run another cycle. It'll be cleaner.'

[01432853]

West out of Yumen (2023) - Liu Xi in Episode 6

[gizkasparadise]

WEST OUT OF THE YUMEN LOOKS SO GOOD

Edit: lol now with the better trailer :'D oop

[neviayue]

sending hugs | By Nevi Ayu E.

A compilation of hugs I've drawn over the time. I hope the warmth reaches you all, or coolness, however you need them to be.