After watching the first three episodes of "South Sea Tomb," one might wonder if a viewer who has never read the original novel can understand such a tightly woven plot. While the most exciting events in "South Sea Tomb" mostly take place underwater, Professor Chen's introduction of the Qin King's Bone Mirror feels somewhat rushed and haphazard as the catalyst for the story.

Adapting a novel that consists of fifty-six chapters into a 16-episode TV series is a challenging task, but at the very least, it should be comprehensible. The "Iron Triangle" in this "Ghost Blows Out the Light" series is not only the most successful group of characters in many adaptations but also showcases the brilliant performances of several supporting roles.

Starting from the first episode of "South Sea Tomb," this installment of "Ghost Blows Out the Light" exudes a sense of liberation. Chen Xiazi, who was originally a blind fortune-teller making a living through divination, has been transformed into a knowledgeable and extraordinary character in this adaptation.

Not to mention whether his divination technique using turtle shell coins is genuine or not, the fact that he can instantly disappear from the sight of Hu Ba Yi and Yang Canzhen is enough to prove that he is not the charlatan Chen Xiazi portrayed in the book. On top of the sudden disappearance of Chen Xiazi, an even more extraordinary shaman appears on the Coral Temple Island. Does one have to be blind to perform in this line of work? Although there is a rule that "no one can become a deity after XX," the actions of these two characters in the beginning of "South Sea Tomb" completely subvert what was written in the book.

Compared to the deified Chen Xiazi and the abrupt appearance of the shaman, "South Sea Tomb" seems to completely omit the backstory of the Qin King's Bone Mirror. It is not until the third episode, when everyone is preparing to set sail, that they hear the phrase "Mary Celeste" from Yang Canzhen for the first time.

Even more exaggeratedly, perhaps to redeem Ming Shu's identity as a rogue merchant and other negative aspects, the series introduces two characters who appear to be fierce debt collectors.

Considering all this, if there is another installment in the "Ghost Blows Out the Light" series, Ming Shu's identity and character are likely to be further whitewashed and portrayed positively. Although the second episode includes a somewhat teasing dialogue between Wang Pangzi and Hu Ba Yi about Duo Ling's arrival, which goes, "She's already so flirtatious in the second episode, she didn't even appear in the first episode," incorporating such seemingly funny elements into "South Sea Tomb" easily creates a disjointed feeling.

Speaking of Duo Ling, although she eventually sneaks aboard the ship with the others to go to the Coral Spiral, this completely erases Ruan Hei's obedient employee image. This version of Ruan Hei not only has her own ideas but also becomes a completely different character from the Ruan Hei depicted in the book. It remains to be seen how this version of Ruan Hei will portray the original character's reckless and daring personality during the subsequent egg collection process.

Apart from these characters and individuals that deviate entirely from the original novel, Bai Wu, an important character who sets the plot in motion by arranging the ship to the Coral Lian, no longer resembles the cunning peddler from the book. He now has his own bodyguards and exudes a domineering aura in front of Hu Ba Yi and the others. The plot point where he was supposed to introduce the origin of the Coral Lian ship to Hu Ba Yi has turned into a passive and indifferent bystander.

Perhaps "South Sea Tomb" will present even more stunning 3D visual effects than the previous "Ghost Blows Out the Light" installments, allowing book fans and fans of the series to witness the scenes described in the novel firsthand. However, when we see that "South Sea Tomb" consists of only 16 episodes, when we see that almost half of "South Sea Tomb" has been cut, and when we see that virtually all characters except the Iron Triangle have been completely altered in "South Sea Tomb," can we truly expect a somewhat complete story in the remaining 13 episodes?

Undeniably, the "Ghost Blows Out the Light" series becomes visually more exquisite with each installment, but the adaptations become increasingly liberated in terms of the plot.

Even though the Coral Spiral allows the Iron Triangle to experience a sense of freedom, as the saying goes, "the vast sea allows fish to leap, and the high sky allows birds to fly," can "South Sea Tomb" really afford to disregard the possibility of shocking book fans? Image placeholders This is all for now regarding the interpretation of "South Sea Tomb." Stay tuned for more exciting analysis in the next installment.