I don't remember much about Crimson Sabre because it's been years since I watched it... but Charmaine Sheh was Ah Jiu was awful (in fact she's awful in most Jin Yong dramas she's been in). The only redeeming thing about CS was Kong Wah as Golden Snake Swordsman but even his storyline was twisted.

I think this SSWRB did a pretty good job with the "love triangle". It wasn't too melodramatic, Chengzhi does care about Ah Jiu but doesn't pine after her because they're on opposite sides. But I dislike how in JY's novels almost girls can't be friends with a guy without having romantic feelings for them at the same time. I was pretty disappointed that Wan Jiao'er fell in love with Chengzhi and liked her a lot more before that happened.