This review may contain spoilers
Classic Chinese Fantasy story with Love, Angst, and Family Drama
So, I'm probably one of the few that JUST watched Eternal Love: Three Lives, Three Worlds Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. I'm glad they shortened the tv drama to just "Eternal Love" from the title of the book. Whew, what a name :)To start off, I read that this story reminded people of Ashes of Love, which I absolutely LOVED. Ever since watching the 60 or so episodes of Ashes of Love, I was heartbroken and so tired. Ashes of Love is one of those drawn-out dramas where it will rip out your heart, put it back together again, only to rip it out again. But this review is about Eternal Love, sorry for the rambling.
I've only watched Yang Mi and Mark Chao in fantasy/wuxia dramas. I find these two actors portray wuxia/historial dramas very well as they both have extraordinary talents in the various roles they've played.
I hesitated to watch Eternal Love because I didn't want to feel the same emotions that Ashes of Love gave me. Again, that drama was brilliant but after weeping with sorrow, joy, and elation over the characters in the show, I was physically and emotionally drained.
While Eternal Love didn't leave me with the same feelings as Ashes of Love, it was still long enough (58 episodes) to really pull me into the storyline and live the lives of the main characters. Eternal Love is one of those fantasy dramas that you have to watch just to experience a range of emotions (I don't like dramas that are too easy - there needs to be a good range of emotions).
The main characters, Bai Qian and Ye Hua are ill-fated lovers. Destined to fall in love but pulled apart for thousands of years in between their fated love stories. The "three lives" part comes in with mostly Yang Mi's characters, which are Si Yin, SuSu, and Bai Qian. In reality, there is only one character - Bai Qian, the High Goddess and Queen of the Fox clan. But there are three lives due to the circumstances she put herself in and that others put her in. As was explained later on in the story that Bai Qian had to go through love trials, the show didn't really explain that part in detail. It was just shown to us her sad and tragic circumstance that wasn't entirely her fault. I liked all three "characters" but felt SuSu was where Yang Mi really shined. Yang Mi played all of her roles quite well, with SuSu being more vulnerable and showing her range of acting skills.
Mark Chao's character, Ye Hau, the Crown Prince of the Heaven clan reminded me a lot of his character in Ying Yang Master. They both wore black clothing and had a very stoic and serious demeanor. I understood why Ye Hua was that way and I'm glad they made him more serious rather than a flimsy playboy that you find in other fantasy/wuxia dramas. Ye Hua was intelligent, kind, and brave and the moment he met Bai Qian, his character completely changed. He felt real love and emotions for the first time and he was determined to keep that and never let go.
The side characters were all interesting, especially the ones that helped Bai Qian. There's a side story of Bai Fengjiu and Dong Hua that had their own tragic love story. I guess there's another Eternal Love spinoff with these two.
My favorite "villains" were Ghost clan royal prince Li Jing who was handsome, tormented, and was overall a good person. He fell in love with Si Yin whom he immediately knew was a girl in disguise as a man and after that, his own story took a tragic turn as well. Poor Li Jing - tried to do the right things but had many obstacles along the way -namely his "wife" the evil and selfish Xuan Nu. I also liked Yan Zhi, the sister and royal princess of the Ghost clan. The young Fire Qilin was quite adorable too, especially his costume.
There are many characters in Eternal Love, and they all played a critical role in the drama. I liked that all of these characters were easy to keep track of. Some had longer appearances which revealed more of their character and motives, such as Su Jin (evil character) and Bai Fengjiu (good character). I think they all did a pretty good job with the roles they were given.
Overall, Eternal Love isn't too complicated nor too light-hearted. There aren't any heavy handed plots or side storylines that got confusing. As I said, all the characters play a role in this drama and their roles blended well into the entire series.
Two side things I must note: 1 - the girls fawning over Ye Hua got a bit tiring and contrite. Yes, he's a single, sexy, high powered male God that every Immortal wants. But come on - let's stop it with the every girl must act like lovesick puppies trope. 2- there is a sexual situation in the story which some reviewers either liked or disliked. While I don't condone such acts, I can see why Ye Hua did what he did. It wasn't graphic or anything, but he's a flawed character who has never experienced romantic love and has to reign in his emotions at all times. Of course once he meets the love of his life he's going to get a little crazy in the love aspect.
Spoiler here for the ending if you don't want to know...
It is a happy ending (YAY!!!) I dread sad endings or cliffhanger endings where you're left guessing or wondering what actually happened. If I'm going to invest at least 40 some episodes of a TV show, then it better have a happy ending, haha!
The ending was explained and I was satisfied with the ending and the happy outcome of Bai Qian and Ye Hua.
I was sad however for Ghost clan princess Yan Zhi and Kunlun student Zi Lan, whom they developed a loving and trustworthy relationship while they were in the mortal world. In my mind, I hoped they were able to reconcile and be together as a couple. They were both so cute and kind to each other, how could they not have their own happily ever after?
Overall, Eternal Love is your traditional good versus evil, High Immortals versus regular Immortals, and lots and lots of misunderstandings!!! Oh, but what good drama doesn't have misunderstandings? That's how they torture us viewers :)
There are elements of death, sexuality, and bad judgments, so this show might not be suitable for children. The mortal realm was fun to watch but the show didn't delve too much into it. Of course in the mortal realm there are bad and good people just like in the Immortal realms!!! There are also serious family drama with the Immortals just like the mortals...which makes you realize that the Gods aren't so perfect after all, are they? :) The mystical and fantasy aspects of the nine-tailed foxes were also a delight to watch, although the CGI wasn't the greatest :)
I recommend Eternal Love. I was able to watch this in less than a week and pretty much nonstop, ha!!!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
There's so much to say about this drama but not enough words to describe the effects that I'm still feeling after watching it. This is hands-down one of the best dramas I've ever had the pleasure of pushing aside my studies for. I loved it so much, I found myself watching all of the BTS and the bloopers.The plot was never boring and I had a blast being taken on this emotional rollercoaster. I'll be honest, it'll be hard to watch some of your ships sink, but don't give up! Because it's the ships that do sail that will make it worthwhile to stick out until the end. That doesn't count as a spoiler, right? Anyways, everything from the costumes to the cinematography was absolutely stunning... And you know the storyline is good when those 45 minutes per episode just fly by.
Yang Mi and Mark Chao did such an amazing job portraying their characters. They did so well, they deserve a standing ovation. Their chemistry on set was undeniable, and I sincerely hope there comes a day when they would be reunited by another drama. But this isn't to say that the other actors/actresses didn't do well. They all exceeded my expectations and everyone looked so beautiful. I loved them all, including the antagonists.
The soundtrack for this drama killed me (x1000). It was as if they knew exactly when to play it; and when they did, all those feelings felt like arrows going straight through my cold, brittle heart. But props to them for making me feel some type of way.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for a good heart squeeze. But be warned because ever since I finished it, I've been having serious withdrawal symptoms and I don't think this is going to go away anytime soon. The only way to solve this problem would be to rewatch it. But I have to keep from doing that because finals are around the corner and I don't want to dig myself a deeper hole here. But you guys are more than welcome to! (Kidding, but not really.)
With that said,
Llama out.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Definitely a great drama.The story follows Bai Qian, who is part of the Fox tribe (they have a strong hold among the immortal clans). She is quite a naughty youngster so her family friend, High Immortal Zhe Yan, sends her to Kun Lun to learn martial arts and good behavior from High Immortal Mo Yuan (also played by Mark Chao). Bai Qian is then transformed into a young male fox diety, Si Yin. There are quite a few "love" plots that follow Bai Qian/Si Yin. Si Yin gets involved in a love story with prince of darkness, but it ends when her teacher passes away due to his father. Bai Qian dedicates her life to trying to restore her teacher's spirit, but ends up going into a heavenly trial as a mortal SuSu. SuSu meets Ye Hua, the imperial grandson and crown prince of Heavenly Lord's tribe. Upon, returning from her heavenly trial she descends to a high god but cannot handle the torment she goes through, so she erases her memory and goes into seclusion. Ye Hua also cannot get over his love for SuSu and tries to restore her spirit. Their love proves time and time again, that they're meant to be. I think it's cute because Bai Qian originally met Ye Hua but he was in the form of a golden lotus growing in Kunlun mountains, so it's like "fate" wants them to be together, but they always almost "misses" each other.
Overall, great cast and plot. One of my all-time favorites.
Was this review helpful to you?
Superb acting and beautifully filmed
This was my first cdrama I ever watched and I am so glad because afterwards I was definitely hooked. An incredible story that has you on the edge of your seat throughout. Stellar acting performances by Yang Mi and Mark Chao, showing what truly superb actors they truly are. Visually stunning with amazing special effects. The only thing I can find wrong with this series is the character and performance by Dilraba Dilmurat as Bai Feng Jiu. How this character got her own spin-off series is beyond me? Although I’ve watched numerous cdramas since then, Eternal Love will always be my favorite.Was this review helpful to you?
.... Even feng jiu n dijun's romance shook my heart soo much... It was heartwrenching! Made me want to kill of all the villains so dat my beloved main leads could have their happy end! If ye hua hadnt returned in the last episode i swear i wouldnt stop crying for him!! Yang mi is a beautiful actress who portrayed her role really well... N ye hua's love for both qian qian and ah li was heartwarming!!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Bigotry is just an ignorant failure to see the divinity hiding deep within every person.
Eternal Love focuses on the perspective of a highly respected Goddess. She has a warm and trusting heart, yet is betrayed by those who she thought were closest to her. Eventually a bitter war takes her dear master from her and she retreats from the world in her depression. Disaster strikes and the Goddess is injured so badly that she forgets everything and becomes a mortal. The prince of heaven is also injured while fighting and becomes a wounded snake in the mortal realm. The goddess lovingly cares for the snake because she has no other family in the mortal realm to care for. The snake eventually transforms back into a man and they fall in love.The Prince of Heaven never knows his wife's real identity as the High Goddess of the wildlands. He loves her despite her lack of status. But the corrupt Gods and Goddesses in heaven are bigoted towards this new mortal gaining entry to heaven and plot her demise.
The message behind Eternal Love is to not focus so much on outward appearances and status, since those things are not true markers for inner beauty and character. Bigotry is just an ignorant failure to see the divinity hiding deep within every person. Love is put to the test as conflicts block their ability to see things from each other's perspective. In the end, the ultimate sacrifice is required to save the world. Who should die to save the world? Is saving the world more important than true love?
More philosophical reviews: https://transcendentphilos.wixsite.com/website/post/the-philosophy-of-chinese-dramas
Was this review helpful to you?
First & Favorite
This was my first chinese drama and easily still my favorite. Xianxia genre is my genre of choice but not many out there that are worthy of a 10 star praise. TMOPB is the best. It has it all. Wonderful depictionof chinese mythology. The most amazing cinematography. Beautiful music that still gives me goosebumps. Gorgeous actors...Mark Chao is my all time Hollywood/Chinawood crush and favorite Asian actor. Best chemistry and skin ship in any drama I have seen. I have watched this masterpiece at least 5 times and know I will many more in the future. The kid actor is also the cutest child actor ever! If I had to make any complaintsit would probablybe the cheesiness of the ultimate villians being the head of ghost tribe and mer people tribe...makeup and acting of those were definitely wanting. My favourite villian was Sujin/concubine.... a story is only as good as its villian....and in my preference...in the justice that is served yo them.... and this was so satisfying. Applause to actress who played that evil jealous bitch. Standing ovation to all screenwriters , cast, crew, director and musicians who made such a magical world come to life.Was this review helpful to you?
My first xianxia and it did not disappoint me
LIKEI heart for Mo Yuan actually sigh...
What Su Su told Ye Hua during their days at Dong Huang - so touching even as a female I also fell in love with her
The part where Su Su said she was leaving and she "J" - omg so so sad
When Ye Hua saw Bai Qian - that moment wow...
DISLIKE
Su Jin, Li Jing and Xuan Nu - omg this trio driving me crazy
Selfish Hao De I guess
MUSIC - personal fav
三生三世 San Sheng San Shi - 張杰 Zhang Jie
凉凉 Liang Liang - 杨宗纬 YangZhong We, 张碧晨 Zhang Bi Chen
思慕 Si Mu - 郁可唯 Yu Ke Wei
就算沒有如果 Jiu Suan Mei You Ru Guo - 香香 Xiang Xiang
繁花 Fan Hua - 董貞 Dong Zhen
REWATCH VALUE
I have re-watched at least 3 to 4 times - like the most re-watch drama on my list!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Watch for Ye Hua and Bai Qian
There are already a lot of reviews explaining the story, so I am going to concentrate on what I feel and my scores.The story for me is 2 scores really. The story of the main characters Ye Hua / Mo Yuan and Bai Qian, and then the other people. The story and writing for the main story is well done and one of the best written around. The other storylines are all over the place, I love all the Kunlu brothers and their stories (16th brother and demon princes, love the demon tribe stories with crazy Xuan Yu and Li Jing., 4th brother and Zhe Yan, and even the hateful Sun Jin and heavenly Lord. The part of the story I could not stand was Bai Feng Jiu and Emperor Dong Hua. I started of thinking they were ok, but I ended up cringing every time they were on and hoping the scenes didn't take too long and we could get back to the other characters.
The acting was again hard for me and depended on who you were talking about. I will say all of the cast was great from Sun Jin and Heavenly Lord, who did so well at making me dislike them, to demon princess, the kunlun boys all really top notch. I adore 3rd Uncle and Chen Lu. I thought Venmo Gao was good as the Emperor Lord playing the stoic but I still feel character. My biggest issue was with Dilraba Dilmurat and the character of Bai Feng Jiu. I found her acting to grate on my nerves. I'm not a big fan of the whole I am young and innocent and the way she played it made the character annoying, I have a hard time watching her in other dramas now cause she just seems to annoy me. Ying Mi as Bai Qian is great, she does not have the widest range but there are times she impressed me and she really captured the difference between Su Su and Bai Qian, and even when she played "Xuan Yu". The perfect actor score really comes down to Mark Chao as Ye Hua and Mo Yuan. His acting is incredible. Watch the changes in Ye Hua before he meets Su Su, while he is with Su Su, after he loses Su Su, and then while wooing Bai Qian. His facial expressions and his eyes are even different. The scene when 2nd prince is trying to save his Snake love, he just looks on with a passive I do not get this. When he is with Su Su he seems like a young kid in first love with such a happy and easy smile. Then there are the heart wrenching scenes losing Su Su and afterward. Gone are the passive I don't get it stares and they are replaced with stares to burn a hole through Su Jin (but she is too dense to see it). Finally is the more cautious Ye Hua with Bai Qian, he's smiles are there but there is almost a sadness and less freedom than with Su Su, You know an actor does a great job when you feel worse for ye Hua than Su Su / Bai Qian after he takes her eyes away and she jumps off the terrace. If you are not sure watch episodes 27 when Ye Hua wakes up and refuses to drink the amnesia liquid to (best scene) stabbing Su Jin, then episode 28 when heart broken Ye Hua burns Su Su's cloths to make a fake Su Su but then is clearly an amazing but sad father to A-Li, and then episode 29 when he sees Bai Qian. In 3 episodes that was an amazing range of acting,
The music is great. I listen to the OST all the time. Remarkably my favorite piece of music is after Ye Hua meets with Heavenly Lord (having stabbed Su Jin) and he is walking back to his palace, is not in the OST. The haunting music along with the world weary expression and slow gate of Ye Hua make the scene so moving.
Rewatch value for me is I watched the entire show, rewatched it again in its entirety, and now I continually re-watch but just the parts I like. I find it more enjoyable skipping all the scenes with Bai Feng Jiu! I basically watch all the scenes with Si Yin and Mo Yuan, Su Su and Ye Hua, and Bai Qian and Ye Hua. Anything with A-Li, who is adorable, 3rd Uncle, 4th brother, well pretty much every scene not related to Bai Feng Jiu and Emperor Lord.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
A MASTERPIECE. Don't miss it....
In my TOP 5 of Xianxia, addictive, with a bunch of star actors.I hesitated to embark on this great epic with 58 episodes, with stories (complicated turns) between a celestial universe, tribulations among mortals, court intrigues among immortals,... I was wrong because you should not this MASTERPIECE drama!!
The story is complex, but coherent and well written. The characters are well developed (even the worst ones).
The production is dynamic and the special effects of high quality (although we often feel the shooting on a green screen;). Even the OSTs are epic and emotional...
I also have to praise the actors:
- The interactions in the 2 main couples (Ye Hua & Bai Qian + Dong Hua & Fengjui) are SWEET, intense and emotional, and even sometimes funny.
- We hate evil characters, very frustrating for the viewer because we are dying to see their horrible end for so many episodes!
In short, they make us experience heaps of emotions (a real roller coaster) during this magnificent story. KUDOS !
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dans mon TOP 5 des Xianxia, addictif, avec un paquet d'acteurs stars.
J'avais hésité à me lancer dans cette grande fresque de 58 épisodes, avec des histoires (tours compliquées) entre un univers céleste, des tribulations chez les mortels, des intrigues de cour chez les immortels,... J'avais tort car il ne faut pas passer à côté de ce drama CULTISSIME !!
L'histoire est complexe, mais cohérente et bien écrite. Les personnages sont bien développés (même les pires).
La réalisation est dynamique et les effets spéciaux d'une grande qualité (bien qu'on sente fréquemment les tournages sur fond vert ;). Même les OST sont géniales.
Je dois aussi faire l'éloge des acteurs:
- Les interactions dans les 2 couples principaux (Ye Hua & Bai Qian + Dong Hua et Fengjui) sont savoureuses, intenses et émotionnelles, et même parfois drôles.
- On déteste les evil characteres, très frustrants pour le spectateur car on meurt d'envie de voir leur fin horrible pendant tant d'épisodes !
Bref, ils nous font vivre des tas d'émotions (un roller coaster) au cours de cette histoire magnifique. BRAVO ! Je le regarderai certainement à nouveau, car l'histoire est tellement belle....
Was this review helpful to you?
