The Smiling, Proud Wanderer (笑傲江湖 1996)

A wuxia about sects, politics and one swordsman who just wants to drink and play music. It is the most political of the Louis Cha stories, and the show leans into that. I enjoyed watching idealism bump into reality.

The music thread is lovely, and some of the villains are memorably chilling. The action is secondary to the questions about liberty and power. It left me thinking about who really holds authority in any group.

Forty episodes is a fair length. Newcomers may want the story explained first, but it grows on you. A good pick for a thoughtful weekend.