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Journey to the West

1986 – 2000Show2 seasons41 episodesTV-Y

Action & AdventureDrama
85
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.7

A nostalgic, awe-inspiring drama series about fantasy and pop culture, with standout score and performances.

Good for family movie night · friends night · kids

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

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Not streaming in any country yet.

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Shows with

Episodes

2 seasons · 41 episodes · best: S1E10 "San da Bai Gu Jing" 9.0

Episodes

7.9
7.3

Story

Four pilgrims. One epic.

Journey to the West is a Chinese television series adapted from the classical novel of the same title. The series was first broadcast on CCTV in China on 1 October 1986. The series became an instant classic in China and is still being praised as the best and most authentic interpretation of the novel. Unadapted portions of the original story were later covered in the second season, which was released in 1999.

Feels like

  • Classic Chinese Mythology
  • Nostalgic Cultural Icon
  • Wholesome Adventure
  • Iconic Soundtrack
  • Buddhist Allegory
  • Ensemble Cast Chemistry
  • Magical Realism
  • Intergenerational Appeal
  • Playful Fantasy
  • Spiritual Journey

Cast

24 of 206 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Jie Yang

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

February 9, 1986 · February 23, 2000 · Ended

First aired
February 9, 1986
Last aired
February 23, 2000
Status
Ended
Length
2 seasons · 41 episodes
Age rating
TV-Y
Genres
Action & Adventure, Drama
Original language
Chinese
Made in
China

Tropes

No Ending, Adaptational Wimp, A Day in the Limelight +9

  • No Ending
  • Adaptational Wimp
  • A Day in the Limelight
  • Resolved Noodle Incident
  • Adaptational Badass
  • The Cameo
  • Composite Character
  • Breath Weapon
  • Adaptation Deviation
  • Wire Fu
  • BFG
  • Adaptational Context Change

12 of 47 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Is Journey to the West worth watching?"

Questions about Journey to the West

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is Journey to the West worth watching?

85
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 85 (IMDb 8.7).

Is Journey to the West okay for kids?

TV-Y

Yes: it's rated TV-Y in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

How long does it take to watch Journey to the West?

31 h

About 31 hours: 41 episodes in 2 seasons of about 45 minutes each, aired from 1986 to 2000.

Will I feel good after watching Journey to the West?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting series: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for hopefulness and 8 for wholesome.

Will Journey to the West make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly slapstick (8 of 10) and sharp wit (7 of 10).

Is Journey to the West in English?

Chinese

No, it was made in Chinese.

What tropes does Journey to the West use?

No EndingAdaptational WimpA Day in the LimelightResolved Noodle IncidentAdaptational BadassThe CameoComposite CharacterBreath WeaponAdaptation DeviationWire FuBFGAdaptational Context Changeand 35 more

TV Tropes lists 47 tropes for it, including No Ending, Adaptational Wimp, and A Day in the Limelight.