I liked a majority of things in this drama, the plot was amazing, albeit a little confusing in the beginning(cause I skipped parts hehe heh he, I know it's a bad habit but it's just a usual thing for me). Eternal Love just has a way of making everything feel so magical and emotional. I don't know very many dramas that can make the whole peach blossom and everlasting love theme a natural thing. Some dramas just over-enforce those two things. The plot flowed quite smoothly(after I stopped skipping parts of course). ^.^
Another thing I loved about this drama was that not only did it include the two main character's love stories, it also included the side character's love stories. Everything that the characters experienced and felt just struck me right in the heart. I could physically feel their pain and I cried along with the characters. Needless to say, I turned to mush and I also used up a lot of tissues.
The clothing, setting, and music was also super great and really fit the theme. Especially the music. Even after finishing and rewatching the drama so many times, I never get tired of listening to the music/songs in the drama.
Also, even after months of finishing this drama, I still thought about it. It really did have that big of an impact because the characters and plot were so beautifully acted out.
That end's my review of Eternal Love. It's amazing, well thought out, and beautiful. Definite 10/10 overall.
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A Goddess, A Crown Prince, and a Love That Refused to Die
The drama is divided into three major arcs: Si Yin and Mo Yuan, Su Su and Ye Hua, and finally Bai Qian and Ye Hua.The first arc lays the foundation of the world and relationships. While some may find it slower, it builds the emotional depth that pays off later. The real emotional turning point begins in the mortal arc between Su Su and Ye Hua. Their love in the mortal realm is tender, soft, and deeply moving. However, once Su Su is taken to the Celestial Palace, the tone shifts dramatically. Miscommunication, secrets, palace politics, and Ye Hua’s misguided attempts to “protect” her lead to devastating consequences. That arc remains one of the most heartbreaking stretches in xianxia dramas.
The final arc between Bai Qian and Ye Hua is a mix of romance, frustration, and redemption. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the repeated misunderstandings and Ye Hua’s often forceful behavior can be difficult to overlook. Still, the emotional payoff, especially Ye Hua’s redemption arc, is powerful and memorable.
Acting & Performances
Mark Chao delivers a phenomenal performance as Ye Hua. He conveys emotion through his eyes with remarkable depth. His pain, longing, authority, and vulnerability feel authentic. Whether as a restrained Crown Prince or a desperate lover, he commands the screen. Some of the most powerful scenes in the entire drama belong to him.
Yang Mi shines in her triple portrayal of Si Yin, Su Su, and Bai Qian. Each version feels distinct. Her Su Su is fragile and tragic, while Bai Qian is composed and dignified, though sometimes emotionally obtuse. Yang Mi captures heartbreak beautifully, especially in the palace arc.
The child actor who played Ah Li was absolutely adorable and added warmth to the story. The supporting cast also deserves praise.
Maggie Huang as Su Jin made viewers truly despise her, which speaks to how well she embodied the manipulative antagonist.
Vin Zhang as Li Jing portrayed a flawed but layered character whose long, obsessive love felt tragic rather than purely villainous.
The side couple Feng Jiu and Dong Hua became so popular that they later received their own drama, Eternal Love of Dream.
Even minor characters, from Bai Qian’s fox family to the heavenly gossip trio, added charm and personality to the world.
Strengths
Deep emotional storytelling across multiple lifetimes
Strong performances, especially from Mark Chao
Beautiful costumes and cinematography
Memorable soundtrack
High emotional impact scenes that remain unforgettable
Complex relationships beyond the main couple
The chemistry between the leads is intense and believable. Some romantic scenes were passionate and mature, which is refreshing in the genre.
Weaknesses
Excessive miscommunication and secrecy that prolongs conflict
Ye Hua’s questionable choices in the Celestial Palace
Some CGI that reflects its 2017 production limitations
Certain side plots feel stretched or underdeveloped
Lack of a truly strong, overarching villain
Dragging pacing in some later episodes
At times, it feels like nearly all suffering could have been avoided with basic communication. While that is a common trope in melodramas, it can become frustrating over 58 episodes.
Overall Impression
Despite its flaws, this drama earns its status as a xianxia classic. It is dramatic, emotional, sometimes frustrating, but undeniably impactful. The love story is tragic yet devoted, flawed yet powerful. The redemption arc of Ye Hua, the heartbreak of Su Su, and the enduring bond between Bai Qian and Ye Hua leave a lasting impression.
It may not be perfect in writing or pacing, but it stands in a league of its own because of its emotional depth, performances, and unforgettable moments.
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Lets start off with the obvious bad because there's only a few:
1) CGI was horrible. The foxes were so unrealistic. But my saying is that bad CGI can be easily overlooked if the storyline is great.
2) Was not a *big* fan of the side romance between Dong Hua and Bai Feng.(watch eternal love of dream for Dong Hua and Bai Fenf story)
The great:
1) Yang Mi is a great actress and the way she played the FL was flawless. This is a story about the FL being sent away to train with the God of War because her parents find her naughty and hard to control. And she is. But add a dash of imprisonment, heavenly war, loss of memory, and you have a mixture for a very unique xter. She becomes a woman aware of her Goddess status which makes her distant from others. But she's also quirky in an "Im such an old Goddess way" and acts aloof as a way to create distance from others.
2) then theres Mark Chao -- bestill my beating heart-- who plays the Crown Prince. He's the wunderkind of Heavenly Realm never doing anything wrong until he falls in love in the mortal world. His heartbreak and determination to reunite with his wife is just so moving.
3) Sweet little Ali -- cutest kid in the heavenly Realm and all around great wing man for his dad.
4) The love story. This is a love story where the ML falls hard and fast for the FL and does everything in his power to win her over *every* time despite facing heartbreak and rejection.
I have watched this at least a dozen times and can say its a go-to show for great acting and storyline.
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EL: TLTWTMPB is a marvelous XIANXIA Drama Series
The epical barometer of a XIANXIA adventure series, developed from a WUXIA Sina-Asian Series of action martial arts action adventure and the mystical lives of immortals, gods, spirits and demons containing a cultivation story in a cross-pollination from the influence of Taoism and Buddhism. Making the Series EL:TLTWTMPB a pioneer adaptation on screen of an Eastern Fantasy Novels with that rare element of having a orientalist brand of honor on warring states in the story. The series is a must watch even in the coming decades. Exquisite and flawless portrayals by the lead stars Yang Mi and Mark Chao joined by the finest equally stellar ensemble cast, on high range cinematic style in cinematography and a catalytic logical coherence in the plot lines and storylines in each and every progressing episode. EL: TLTWTMPB is a modern classic on this dramatic genre.Was this review helpful to you?
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Timeless Love Story...
ETERNAL LOVE (San Sheng San Shi Shi Li Tao Hua / Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms) was an unexpectedly wonderful show, super entertaining plot and lovable characters. I was skeptical going into this one, fearing it to be another "too cheesy to believe" romance. However, it completely pulled me in. Everything was really well done. <3The character of Bai Quan played by the wonderful Yang Mi was perhaps one of the best female leads I have seen in a C-Drama yet. She is very loveable, feisty, witty and completely unique. I loved her character so much. Mark Chao was great in this series as well, but especially as the stoic, yet warm-hearted Ye Hua. I loved Bai Qian and Ye Hua and adored watching their love grow and their lives intertwine. They had such palpable chemistry. So adorable.
The whole cast was great, honestly. Bai Fengjiu and Dong Hua were also very enjoyable. Li Jing, although broody and tormented, was also a very interesting character. I honestly wish there were more episodes, even a second season. The costumes were dazzling, the setting breathtaking and the mythology was captivating. I fell in love with the world of Eternal Love, along with the majority of the cast.
And the music! Fantastic. My only complaint, and it’s a pretty small one, was at some points the drama became almost melodrama, as if the emotions overshadowed the plot, slightly detracting from the suspense of impending doom. (Usually the melodrama had to do with Su Jin or Li Jing.)
This show made me teary, and I don’t cry easily. But the ending was very satisfying, complete with HEA. Anyway, this was a very enjoyable, creative and dazzling show. If you’re into fantasy romance, and xianxia, give it a chance. Unforgettable.
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One of the Must Watch Chinese Dramas
I have watched this drama for the fifth time now, If you love Chinese costume dramas then this is a must watch drama. Why? Because the story is so good supported by a good casting and acting. A love that spans many lifetimes and thousands of year. This is an epic love story of gods and goddess, placed in a mystical world where there are mythical creatures and the world is divided into many different worlds, being the celestial heaven, a place called Qing Chiu which is kingdom ruled by the Nine-tailed fox family, the mortal world where the mortals live, the underworld ruled by another royal family. There are also four rivers ruled by different rulers and a place called ten miles peach blossom where there lives an ancient phoenix who plays a crucial part in the story.Since I was so addicted to the story and their romance. I kept watching some memorable scenes. LOL. Luckily youtube have all these memorable clips that I can watch over and over again. There was a movie for this TV dramas with different pairs. I watched it. It was good. But since the movie was so short, I think it will be a bit hard to understand the story. While the drama has longer episodes to explain the whole plots. But both of them are beautiful. Luckily I watched the movie after competing watching the TV dramas. So, there was no problem to understand the story in the movie.
The OST is also addictive. Not to mentioned the beautiful scenes in the story. The popularity of the series has led to the soundtrack, "Bracing the Chill" to become one of the most covered songs in 2017. I also love the fact that the Dragon TV is the original TV broadcasted this TV dramas.
I watched the classics like Sin Tiaw Eng Hiong, Sin Tiaw Hiap Lu and To Liong To. For me this one is one of the classics that can be put together with these three classics.
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Mesmerised
It had been some months since I watched this drama. At that point, it was the first Chinese drama that I watched after years. I was so mesmerised by it that I rewatched it twice and recaptured some of the scenes a number of times. I had not given Chinese drama production much credit in the past - I thought of them as sterile, politically influenced and boring. But this got me hooked onto Chinese dramas ever since.I have given it perfect scores for everything. The chemistry between the actor and actress was amazing. Costumes and scene setting was beautiful. Actors and actresses are good looking and acted their part well. The story moved from one life to another; each was intriguing. It held me in suspense wondering what the villain might do next to make life miserable for the hero and heroine of the story. It was an interesting development showing how the heroine of the story developed from a 'teenage girl' hurt by her first love to a 'mature woman' who moved on with her life. There are comic relief at various points.
Besides the actors and actresses, I gave the director, script writer and editor a lot of credit for putting together the plot so nicely.
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Classic in the making
A tale that spanned three worlds and three lifetimes, this drama not only paved the way for a new generation of Xianxia genre fans, it had also cemented itself as a future classic.The plot is quite linear as opposed to the novel and I believe the production team did the right thing. The first few arcs may be a bore to most viewers because of this decision, but it's still way better than be immediately thrown right into the drama's world alongside its amnesiac female lead. Imagine how far more frustrating that could have been. What will give us a motivation to root for Bai Qian then? Why do we care?
Hence, this drama succeeded in becoming a tale where we become emotionally invested in the characters way before the big changes that became the real starting point of the story. So if you've just started and found the first few episodes as slow, that is expected, you are looking right into the prequels so to speak. But once the ball starts rolling, it will be worth it.
In general, just like any other fairy tale, we saw some dubious character development later on, a few highly satisfying face-slapping scenes and an eventual happy ending for the main couple after a long melodramatic love story. True, things could've been solved earlier if everyone in the drama will just stop to listen and/or explain for a few minutes, but then, we'll never have the Ten Miles we know now.
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Ye Hua is THE only man
I’m fully invested in the 3L3W universe, I loved TMOPB so much I went on to watch ELOD and I love both shows equally! (If not, TMOPB a little more if I’m gonna be honest) after binging on both TMOPB end ELOD I couldn’t help but write my first 2 reviews ever! So much love for both shows- the first arc starts off a little slow imo, with not much going on here as we establish and settle into the story and universe. Mostly about bai qian’s relationship with her shifu, Mo Yuan the god of war
- the subsequent mortal world arc (bai qian stripped of her immortality, gone for a mortal trial) was my least favourite arc, it ends tragically due to misunderstandings. I’m still upset that YH did the things he did even if it was for her own good - no!! U don’t get to make unwanted decisions for her, it doesn’t work that way. I don’t even wanna talk about Su jin who eventually forced her to the edge - not a fun sight
- aaah yes finally we’re back in the heavens (bai qian chose to forget her memories as a mortal, which also meant forgetting Ye Hua) this is my favourite and possibly everyone’s(?) favourite arc cos we finally get to see bai qian in full force - her badass self and she paid back X1000 everyone that did her dirty (namely Su Jin and Xuan Nu) when she was a mortal. Finally, Ye Hua and Bai Qian can ~properly~ fall in love! Ye Hua only has eyes for her and the way he gently but intensely says “qian qian” SWOON! Both leads did so well, especially mark as YH! His little micro facial expressions is everything I need. Might be a tad bit dramatic but he IS super charismatic. (My fav scene is the one where BQ finally confesses her love and he hungrily asked her to birth another child with him omg)
Least favourite part of the show was how unlike the lead couple, our side couple were not meant to be in this installation. Thankfully there’s ELOD so that’s another story! Another part I didn’t like was how they made the final episode or rather, the happy ending, so short. I wish I had been able to see more of them settling into their lives after everything was over.
Now, I can’t even say the demon clan side story was my least favourite cos tbh I didn’t even care for it I just skipped it most of the time - it was imo unimpressionable and a waste of time
Anyhoo it was a wild ride and I finished all 58 eps in a week, no regrets it was worth every minute (that I didn’t skip) One of the top few dramas on my list, I went into this show apprehensive as I’ve not watched a drama this long in ages (last one being yan xi) but now that it’s over... it’s time to move on to ELOD!
My man my man Ye Hua
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An encaptivating story
This is a wonderful piece of work. In fact, it is one of the first dramas I have ever watched and it hooked me in right from the beginning . The story itself is beautiful and the acting was top notch. The music also really set the scene well. The parts with Feng Jiu and Emperor Dong Hua were very sweet, but heart breaking. Although the story goes at a nice pace, it was a bit too long I don't have the patience to watch it again, as you can from my relatively low rating for the rewatch value. However I have watched it twice and the CGI is really good. Fortunately the story has a happy ending (spoiler alert). All in all I recommend it. Even if it was long it was worth the time.Was this review helpful to you?
