LayarHijau – The upcoming fantasy costume drama Soul Judgement of Nine Rivers (魂判九川/ tentative English title) has quickly become one of the most talked-about projects of early 2026. The series, starring rising actor Tian Jiarui, officially began filming on March 10 in Hengdian. What started as a highly anticipated launch among fans soon turned into a heated online controversy after viewers realized the adaptation had changed the original female lead into a male protagonist.
The opening ceremony drew significant attention. Tian Jiarui appeared with long, wild curls while holding a small dog, and fans set up a 20-meter-long flower wall to show their support. Social media buzz exploded almost immediately, with related topics surpassing 300 million views within just half a day.
But alongside the excitement came growing debate online. Many viewers discovered that the drama is adapted from the popular novel Nine Girls, She Is Rebellious and Wild (九姑娘她一身反骨人还狂) by Yan Xiaomo. The original story is widely known for featuring a strong female protagonist with no romantic pairing, yet the drama version replaces her with a male lead.
A Story Premise That Caught Viewers’ Attention
Despite the controversy, the core premise of Soul Judgement of Nine Rivers has intrigued many fans of fantasy dramas.
In the series, Tian Jiarui plays Yun Jiuchuan (named Lang Jiuchuan in the original novel). He begins as the legitimate son of the second branch of the Marquis of Kaiping’s household. His life takes a tragic turn when he is poisoned and dies unjustly in a mass grave.
However, the real story begins at the moment of his death. In the underworld, a terrifying spirit known as the “ghost feared by all” accidentally uses his body to return to the world of the living. The soul inhabiting Yun Jiuchuan’s body turns out to be Tianxing Zhenjun, a former celestial judge who once presided over the laws of karma.
The body he inhabits is fragile—his physical form is damaged, and parts of his soul are missing. To survive, he must accumulate good deeds to sustain his life. Yet the soul within him is anything but weak. Powerful and rebellious, it creates a striking contrast between a broken body and an indomitable spirit.
While searching for the truth behind his death, Yun Jiuchuan opens a mysterious shop called Wan Shi Pu, taking on supernatural cases that bridge the worlds of the living and the dead. Along the way, he must confront a national preceptor’s conspiracy and form a life-binding contract with a white tiger spirit named Jiang Li, who failed her celestial trial.
The series blends two narrative threads: political intrigue within a noble household and supernatural investigations spanning two realms. This dual storyline has fueled expectations that the drama could deliver a high-energy mix of fantasy, mystery, and power struggles.
Gender Swap Controversy Ignites Debate
Despite the compelling premise, the adaptation’s biggest controversy stems from its drastic change to the original protagonist.
In Nine Girls, She Is Rebellious and Wild, the lead character Lang Jiuchuan is a sharp-tongued female fortune-teller. She possesses the ability to read fate, solve supernatural mysteries, and accumulate merit to extend her life after returning from death.
Many of the novel’s most memorable moments—from opening a supernatural shop to solving paranormal cases and forming a contract with a white tiger spirit—are milestones in the journey of a strong and independent female character.
In the drama version, however, nearly all of those story elements have been transferred to the male protagonist Yun Jiuchuan. Critics argue that the adaptation effectively removes the original female narrative at the heart of the story.
Others, meanwhile, believe that if the plot remains engaging, changing the protagonist’s gender may not necessarily harm the overall viewing experience.
Production Team Responds
On March 15, the production team behind Soul Judgement of Nine Rivers released an official statement addressing the growing controversy.
In the statement, the producers acknowledged the concerns raised by fans and viewers who care deeply about the story. They emphasized that creative innovation inevitably carries risks.
According to the production team, the adaptation was never meant to intentionally overturn or undermine the original work. Instead, their goal was to pursue a bold dramatic expansion while still preserving the core spirit of the novel.
The team also highlighted that many of the creators involved in the project are women and stressed that they would never approach any character or group with a careless or dismissive attitude. They expressed hope that the true meaning of the story’s “judgment of the soul” would ultimately be evaluated by audiences once the series airs.
In addition, the producers clarified that all adaptation rights for Soul Judgement of Nine Rivers were legally obtained through formal authorization and cooperation with the original copyright holder. The series, they said, is an independent production created under legitimate licensing agreements.
The statement concluded with the team thanking audiences for their patience and attention while promising to do their best to meet viewers’ expectations.
The Author’s Silence
Interestingly, the novel’s author Yan Xiaomo has not publicly commented on the controversy.
Fan communities dedicated to the book remain active, but the writer has yet to respond to the ongoing debate online. This silence has sparked speculation about the role and influence authors have once their works are adapted for television.
Some observers believe it reflects a broader reality within the IP adaptation industry, where writers often lose creative control after selling the rights to production companies.
A Larger Debate About IP Adaptations
The debate surrounding Soul Judgement of Nine Rivers has also sparked wider discussions about how web novels are adapted for television.
Critics argue that turning a female protagonist into a male lead reflects an industry tendency to favor male-centered projects. In some cases, stories originally built around strong female characters are altered to align with what producers perceive as safer market strategies.
Supporters of the adaptation, however, point out that changes are often inevitable when a novel is adapted for the screen. From this perspective, creative reinterpretation is part of the process of transforming a written work into a visual production.
Between Controversy and Expectation
Despite the ongoing debate, Soul Judgement of Nine Rivers still has several factors working in its favor.
Tian Jiarui’s popularity has grown rapidly following his performances in My Journey to You and Fangs of Fortune, and the drama is backed by an experienced production team. Its blend of fantasy storytelling, mystery, and political intrigue gives it strong potential within the costume drama market.
Filming is currently underway in Hengdian. Whether Soul Judgement of Nine Rivers will ultimately become a controversial misstep or emerge as a surprise breakout hit remains to be seen when the series eventually premieres on Tencent Video.
