The Arrow of Girls (铁弓传奇, 2025

Recently, CCTV-6 released a brand-new adaptation of the classic theatrical story The Iron Bow Romance (often known as The Arrow of Girls), which was made available on YouTube in mid-2025. 

Set against the backdrop of the Ming Dynasty, this modern adaptation introduces several key modifications to the traditional storyline.

The story follows Chen Xiuying, the skilled daughter of a fallen Ming general, who is forced to flee after her mother dies in a fire caused by Shi Lun, the arrogant son of corrupt Commander Shi Xulong. Carrying her father's iron bow and a half-piece Yin-Yang jade token, she heads to the Erlong Mountain stronghold to protect critical military supplies. Alongside her companion Kuang Zhong—who assumes the identity of Wang Fugang—and Yueying, the group uncovers Commander Shi's treasonous plot of embezzling military grain and conspiring with the enemy Oirats (Wala).

Having no prior familiarity with the original theatrical source material, I can only judge this recent production on its own merits.

First and foremost, the production values are impressive. The natural landscapes, cinematography, and set design are absolutely stunning, creating a visually rich environment.

The script itself feels quite solid, though the fast-paced dialogue presented a bit of a challenge. Both the English and Chinese subtitles flashed across the screen so quickly that it was easy to miss a line here and there.

A standout moment occurs about two-thirds into the film: after Chen Xiuying's true identity as a woman—rather than a man—is revealed, she engages in a deep, reflective conversation with Yueying. This level of quiet emotional introspection is a rare and welcome touch for a martial arts feature.

The action choreography is equally engaging, even if the heroine’s defensive maneuvers occasionally lean a bit too far into "Superman" territory. As for the score, it remains largely understated, relying mostly on subtle snippets of traditional music rather than a heavy background soundtrack.

Rating: 8/10

Watch it .https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YeefPHraaZI&t=118s

IMDb page

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt44842120/reviews/?featured=rw11929043&ref_=tt_ururv_c_1