History YMMV / TheSmilingProudWanderer

* MemeticMutation: The incredibly poor reception to the 2018 web series spawned a good few jokes at its expense
** The 2018 web series is what killed Creator/JinYong [[labelnote:Explanation]]When Jin Yong also passed away in 2018, some people joked, in a darkly comedic manner, that seing his novel get such an awful adaptation is what actually killed him[[/labelnote]]
** The 2018 version is the best because it [[StealthPun actually made me laugh.]][[labelnote:Explanation]][[BilingualBonus The Chinese character for "laugh," 笑/"Xiào" is in the novel's Chinese title, 笑傲江湖/"Xiào ào jiānghú"]][[/labelnote]]

*** Changing Yang Lianting into the [[RelatedInTheAdaptation secret daughter of Ren Woxing.]]
*** And Dongfang Bubai is given a dose of AdaptationalHeroism, only for him to suddenly reveal himself be just pretending to be a good guy all along

** The 2013 Chinese TV series adaptation gets a lot of criticism for Dongfang Bubai becoming a CompositeCharacter with a large chunk of the other characters, causing them to become a SpotlightStealingSquad to whoever was left, for supposedly [[ItsTheSameSoItSucks ripping off the entire plot from the better received 1996 adaptation]], and for having [[NiceGuy Tian Boguang]] engaging in BlackComedyRape.

** Xiang Wentian, whose novel version showed UndyingLoyalty to Ren Woxing, [[DirtyCoward turning traitor under the threat of death.]]
** Linghu Chong is given [[PoisonousPerson toxic blood]] as an ability; despite this, he later saves someone via blood transfer without any issue whatsoever.
** Yu Canghai is turned into an annoying recurring enemy.
** Changing Yang Lianting into the [[RelatedInTheAdaptation secret daughter of Ren Woxing.]]
** And Dongfang Bubai is given a dose of AdaptationalHeroism, only for him to suddenly reveal himself be just pretending to be a good guy all along

** The Taiwanese TV series adaptation (2000) gets a lot of flak for greatly altering both the plot and the characters' personalities.
** The Chinese TV series adaptation (2013) gets a lot of criticisms too. 1) Amalgamating a lot of the novel's characters into Dongfang Bubai to the point of displacing the importance of other characters in the story, 2) ripping off the entire plot from the better received 1996 TV series, and 3) for portraying Tian Boguang as a NiceGuy engaging in BlackComedyRape.
** The Chinese web series (2018) gets the worst online reception - at least for the beginning episodes. Critics had noted that they actually found the 2013 version relatively more enjoyable. Several characters had their personality/motivations changed, sequence of events are unnecessarily played out of order compared to the novel be it plot changes or constant flashback scenes, resulting in plot holes. Many examples, but among them: Xiang Wentian, whose novel version showed absolute loyalty to Ren Woxing, but in the web-series he became a traitor upon the threat of death. The additional plot point about Linghu Chong having toxic blood as an ability yet later on had no problem saving someone with his blood. Or the additional plot changes that turned Yu Canghai into an annoying recurring enemy. Changing the Yang Lianting character into the secret daughter of Ren Woxing. Making Dongfang Bubai a heroic character and then throwing in the inexplicable plot twist where he was only pretending to be a good guy. And more...

** The 2018 version is the best because it [[StealthPun actually made me laugh.]][[labelnote:Explanation]][[BilingualBonus The Chinese character for "laugh," 笑/"Xiào" is in the novel's Chinese title, "Xiào ào jiānghú"]][[/labelnote]]

** The 2018 version is the best because it [[StealthPun actually made me laugh.]][[labelnote:Explanation]][[BilingualBonus The Chinese character for "laugh," 笑/"Xiào" is in the novel's Chinese title, 笑傲江湖/Xiào ào jiānghú]][[/labelnote]]

* MemeticMutation: The 2018 web series huge negative reception became the butt of jokes for the Jin Yong fanbase. Jokes include attributing Jin Yong's death in 2018 to the release of this series. In case someone doesn't understand it yet, Jin Yong is the author of Smiling Proud Wanderer. Other fans joked saying this series should be considered the best adaptation of the novel because unlike other adaptations, this one actually made the fans laugh (The Chinese character for "laugh" is in the novel title).

** Ding Guan Sen's portrayal of Linghu Chong was ridiculed as well. Besides the acting (or lack thereof), some pointed out that he looked too young to play Linghu Chong. Ironically, the actor's age at the date of portrayal actually comes closest to the novel version of Linghu Chong, as compared to the past actors for Linghu Chong!

* CreatorsPet: The Chinese web series (2018) has Lan Fenghuang as one of the main characters as part of an EnsembleCast, as opposed to her original status as a minor character in the novel. The actress for Lan Fenghuang happened to be the wife of the director. Critics are upset that the show neglected the Linghu Chong character and scenes in favour of additional focus on Lan Fenghuang.

* MemeticMutation: The Chinese web series (2018)'s huge negative reception became the butt of jokes for the Jin Yong fanbase. Jokes include attributing Jin Yong's death in 2018 to the release of this series. In case someone doesn't understand it yet, Jin Yong is the author of Smiling Proud Wanderer. Other fans joked saying this series should be considered the best adaptation of the novel because unlike other adaptations, this one actually made the fans laugh (The Chinese character for "laugh" is in the novel title).