Investiture of the Gods (2019)

Even better than the real thing.

Investiture of the Gods is one of my less favorite Chinese classics because it is a lengthy, chaotic collection of Chinese myths and anecdotes involving gods and demons. It would not be easy to turn this tome into into a coherent and well-scripted drama with an engaging plot and proper character development. Impressively, this production pulls it off by making storyline a very, very loose adaption of the original novel. Most of the criticism highlights the plot changes and that it doesn't tell the whole story. That is absolutely fair but the end result is a vast improvement from other cheesy, incoherent and lengthy versions. As someone who is not attached to the original story-line, I am good with it.

Although released in 2019, this drama was shot in 2015 and has struggled with censorship - yeah even ancient uprisings/regime change is not a popular topic with the Chinese censors. Update: Initially only 56 of the intended 65 episodes were aired but at this point, all 65 episodes have been released. It is a quality production and the for early viewers, it is well worth going back to watch the last 10 episodes in full. The all-star cast includes Luo Jin, (a very young) Deng Lun, Wang Likun, Yu He Wei and Zhang Bo. They were awesome together and it was quite evident from the rapport between the characters that they had big fun filming this. It is obvious from the CGI, sets and costumes (albeit beautiful) that this is from an older vintage than the more polished 2019 releases but it also doesn't suffer from the excessive filler disease that is plaguing the latter.

The story recounts the reign of the evil King Zhou of the Shang dynasty (an early Chinese dynasty); a time during which allegedly both gods and demons still walked among man. He was a tyrannical and decadent ruler who inflicted great suffering on his subjects under the undue influence of his favorite consort Daji. Daji is said to have distracted him from affairs of the state and exhorted him to acts of great cruelty. Even the heavens intervened and Jiang Ziya was actually an immortal tasked to raise an army of heroes to defeat this evil king. Many lives were lost in King Zhou's overthrow and these heroes were memorialized as gods in popular folklore. The novel likely emerged as a romanticized account of their epic struggle where gods and demons fought alongside mortals on both sides of the conflict. The drama very broadly sticks to this overarching plot but is creative and loose with the details around how they got there.

Yang Jian (Luo Jin) is a half immortal child born with the Third Eye predestined to cause the down fall of King Zhou. Lord Su conceals and raises him in his household as his foster son alongside his daughter Daji (Wang Likun). The young Yang Jiang and his foster sister Daji, who is renown for her beauty and kindness, are in love. This is one of the major departures from the novel, where Daji and Yang Jian barely intersect. In order to save the lives of her family and their people, Daji forsakes all to enter the palace as a concubine but they are all slaughtered anyway. Grief stricken and vengeful, she vows to make King Zhou and his empire suffer. She sells her soul to the evil thousand year old fox spirit (Deng Lun) in exchange for his aid. Wang Likun's Daji was masterful from her transformation from an innocent young girl to the ravishing, cruel and manipulative temptress that brought down an empire. I was stricken at the barely concealed loathing and sadness in her eyes when she seduces her worst enemy; I prayed she could suppress the hatred and the evil that was consuming her; I was repelled by her indiscriminate and breathless cruelty. Throughout she has sad and angry eyes and she clings to the memory of the person she once was. I was wowed by her acting. The young and yet undiscovered Deng Lun pulled off the role of the evil fox spirit who is Daji's only confidante with great relish and panache. They had remarkable onscreen chemistry - as she lost her soul he found his when her cause became his. Even though Luo Jin is technically the male lead his role of loving Daji unconditionally from afar didn't leave much scope for character development. So Deng Lun stole his thunder a bit on this one.

While Daji's scenes are mostly quite intense, the rest of the drama is somewhat irreverent and littered with comic relief. Yu He Wei's Jiang Ziya is the glue that pulls everything together this character absolutely rocked! He is kind hearted, a bit goofy, naive and unambitious immortal that is banished to the mortal realm as punishment and is tasked with investing or martyring the gods. His mortal identity is as a hapless noodle seller with a terrifying termagant of a wife and a lovely daughter. He takes Yang Jiang and Jifa as his first disciples and together they gather the rest of the immortals as they prepare for their fated mission to topple a despot. While falling safely short of slapstick , the camaraderie between Jiang Ziya and his family and disciples had me howling with laughter. Although some the comic moments dragged a little bit at the end, it was very bearable. It makes such a difference to watch something with such a confident, experienced and well-rounded cast. Even the villains were well cast and really captured the spirit of their characters, especially the evil fox spirit and King Zhou. This was truly a fun drama to watch - it has good vs evil, gods, demons, some romance, some bromance, love, hate, friendship, honor, loyalty - it made me laugh as hard as it made me cry. I enjoyed this so much I kept putting off watching the last episode because I didn't want it to end. I am not sure why this drama didn't get higher ratings but I suspect it was some combination of the plot changes, that it looks a bit dated and the fact that there was a long gap before the last ten episodes were finally released. Undoubtedly the humanization of Daji may have also been controversial - after all Daji was one of the most bloodthirsty villains in Chinese history and literature.

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i just completed all 65 episodes with the help of the fast forward button as there’re too many fillers or silly or unnecessary scenes in all episodes. The storyline has too many confusing and unnecessary sub plots.

The acting from both of the leads was decent but I didn’t t feel much chemistry between them. The saving grace for this series was the relatively unknown Deng Lun at the time as his acting and screen presence made this drama more enjoyable to watch. His portrayal of the cold blooded Fox Demon Zixu is captivatingly graceful and gorgeous and i was mesmerised by his acting. Deng Lun was able to expresses the coldness of the character but at the same time ones can feel the deep love that he has hidden deep in his heart towards Daji.

To be honest I was more interested in the story between Daji and the Fox Demon than that of the main leads. The chemistry between the Fox Demon and Daji is also more intense.

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I WANT 60 HOURS OF MY LIFE BACK!

One of the worst series ever! I wish I could blame my boyfriend for making me sit through this, but it was my mistake for letting him choose. Yu Hewei was the only redemption I got from this terrible series. No wonder the last 10 episodes did not get airtime in China, it is really a terrible TV series and absolutely nothing like the original. Investiture of the Gods is not my favourite, but this version is exceptionally horrible. I implore you to spend your time elsewhere.

Daji's portrayal is terrible and a miscast. Firstly, how are we to believe she is the most beautiful enchantress when the concubine is prettier than her? The actress does not come close to what you would imagine the most beautiful person to look like. It would have been more believable had she actually been possessed by a fox spirit and used magic, but no, they decided the fox spirit would function as a permanent fixture in Daji's residence. To make things worse they bring him back to life when he died, which lessens any emotional impact of the death. She also gets portrayed as a "smart" character but there are so many flaws in everything she does, you can think of numerous arguments to counter her statements. The dialogue was also not exceptional. If anything, it made her seem dumber.

Also, how did the King get bewitched? She has no powers! Yes, he is just a complete idiot, a total retard. Even so, at many points throughout the show, my boyfriend and I cheered the King on. We were sincerely hoping he would just behead Daji and Yang Jian so that the series would end.

Let's move on to discuss how useless Yang Jian was. Ironically, that's my boyfriend's name, so throughout the drama, I just cursed at how worthless he was. His obsession with Daji is completely unfounded since they grew up as siblings. Furthermore, how are we supposed to believe a strong love connection between the two when there are literally no instances of them doing anything together. Trying to tie them together with a stupid butterfly or handkerchief is simply lazy. The storyline is also so slow, it felt like forever between the back and forth obsessive "love". He never really grows out of this either, the character is stupid, boring and unlikable.

The first few episodes looked promising when Yang Jian was prophesied as the saviour. That quickly disappears very soon and never gets realised at all. Yang Jian does not come across as a hero, but a selfish cunt who just happens to have superpowers. Imagine him as a dick version of Superman, none of the personality just brute force. One would equate him to a high school jock, definitely not hero material.

To make things worse, he was given a single task to complete, to recruit 5 generals, none of which he actually completed on his own. The timeline is also all over the place, the recruitment was supposed to have lasted years, yet we just quickly get through it all in a few episodes. A majority of which, we see Yang Jian flying off to be a peeping tom at Daji's residence.

The ending was so abrupt, almost like they wasted time for 40 episodes and had to put together a semi-coherent ending in the last 10 episodes so that it wouldn't last forever.

The reviews here were so unreliable as that was where my boyfriend went to get information before deciding to watch this piece of crap they call a TV series. I'd rather spend my time on something useful like polishing pebbles. ?

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decent actors but way too slow and dragged

Story/Production: The major problem I got with this drama is that it's way too slow paced. Those + episodes could have been cut into half probably. I'm not joking that I watched many episodes literally with 1,25 to 1,5 speed and it was still feeling slow.
Cast/Characters: I personally like the FL character the most, she's very realistic and strong, which is not that easy to be found in dramas imo. All the other actors are doing a decent job, even though I did feel Luo Jin felt a little bit old to act as an teenager.
Overall: I just think the drama had decent actors, a very average script writing. The length should definitely cut into the half.

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This is a great storyline in completion. I got to see Deng Lun and since this was his first in playing this type of character, he was awesome. I did feel bad for the actors/actresses for not being recognized for this piece when it was not completed but now that it is, it was amazing. Deng Lun, my number 1 Favorite Actor playing a Demon and still looks good. No comparison with the demon world he played in Ashes of Love... I mean this is totally a different type of Demon. I mean a DEMON! Those eyes of his just get to me. BUT... I can't fathom the demon part for him. BUT... this will show his acting abilities. The rest of the cast, oh my, did everything to bring this story together. What an explosive ending, the visuals are outstanding! You will have to watch it to know what I mean. This will have to be a re-watch for me in completion.

Let Deng Lun tell you himself... Please copy and paste the below URL to your browser.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=385571465361774

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great. I love the movie and the drama. the casting is great. I think it was the best. but I still hope that she will leave with the fox to another place and live together. because the fox really loves her. and she knows that she loves the fox too. if she doesn't love the fox, why will she wish the fox to live and get more freedom?

我喜歡電影和戲劇。 鑄造很棒。 我認為那是最好的。 但我仍然希望她能和狐狸一起去另一個地方生活。 因為狐狸真的愛她。 她知道她也愛狐狸。 如果她不愛狐狸，為什麼她希望狐狸生活並獲得更多自由？

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Lighthearted and Fun

First drama I watched after nearly a decade of watching none!

A fascinating story with a bit of mystery, and a mixture of lighthearted comedy, silliness, romance, friendships, fantasy, revenge and scheming.

1. Story
Good pace, the mystery behind the main character was reason the drama flowed quickly. The character mixture of mortals, immortals, demons, and gods were interesting and added to the watch value of the drama.

2. Characters
I discovered Luo Jin casted as Yang Jian, through this drama and was not disappointed. Very much enjoyed his natural acting and a very likeable character. The stronger performances were that of the Fox Demon (Deng Lun), Xiao Er, Jiang Ziya, Crown Prince and Empress. Other supporting characters who were also enjoyable were Li Er, Lan Ying, Wu Ji, Bo Yikao, Ne Zha, both Consorts, King of Zhou, and Jiang Ziya's wife with the celestial broom.

Less enjoyable characters were King of Shang, Shen Gonbao, Fei Zhong, and didn't really care for Su Da Ji.

3. Romance
The main relationship is a bit complicated since the adopted son and main character, Yang Jian technically isn't blood related to Su Da Ji but is still her sibling, so although the chemistry is there, its also awkward. However Luo Jin, brings genuine passion and sentiments into this relationship which makes it believable.

There are many side relationships and some are equally as romantic. There is Wu Ji and Lan Ying, Yang Jian and Xiao Er, Fox Demon and Su Da Ji, and Jiang Ziya and his wife (more lighthearted).

4. Costumes
Well above average design and I liked the variety they showed. Clean aesthetics and very appealing.

5. Music
This series is obviously incomplete due to some censoring in China but the ending theme is already an exceptional tune. Very moving and beautiful -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxXMqhxsBpc

6. Ending
Well, there is no ending yet since it stops at Episode 53 and hasn't updated in a while as of October 2019 which kind of brings down the watch value since there was a ton of momentum in the story but sadly cut short.

Will they ever show the intended remaining episodes? Who knows but it was definitely fun to watch and I still recommend it! Only boring parts were the palace scenes which is a bit more serious.

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Too long and boring

I was excited to watch this because of Allen Deng (loved him in Ashes of Love), and Luo Jin (lead in Princess Wei Young). This series was painfully slow and boring.

Storyline: So many characters to keep track of. Very slow and repetitive scenes/dialogue. I skipped through so many of the series. Only finished it to see if it was a satisfying ending. Predictable ending, but not satisfying.

Acting: While some actors did a good job, some of them over-acted and/or were not convincing in their roles. Allen Deng was a bit disappointing, but I'll give him a pass since this was one of his earlier roles (he improved significantly in more recent works like Ashes of Love). Luo Jin (ML) was just ok, he was way better in Princess Wei Young. I did not feel any chemistry between him and the FL. The FL her acting wasn't bad but didn't live up to the weight of that character/role. Hewei Yu who played Jian Zi Ya was not convincing as a slow-witted, funny character. It seemed very forced. One of the most annoying characters was Shen Gong Bao (support role) the antagonist. Completely over acted. His acting is always the same (like in Rise of the Phoenixes).

Overall - waste of time.

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Bad editing, jumping scene, careless wrong dialogues , wrong timing

It's not that the story of this film is not good, but they are not good at changing and editing, the story they change is different from fiction but it doesn't get better but it's very bad


Honestly, this is a film with the most messy scenes, storylines, timing I've watched

very careless, a lot of wrong dialogue goes unnoticed

There is a spoiler in the drama， how do people watch it? Just watch who its happen? ,some people dont like it,, Jumping around in the unseen scenes, spoilers were added.


If they want to describe the secret of heaven, then a little part should be enough, right?

What I hate the most is that the LEAD is an impulsive, reckless, stupid, not a wise character


In this drama, the best expressed is on the cruel, fatuous of di xin,, they not express the wise, Benevolance, of jiang zi ya , not express the heroic of yang jian


the film is very messy, lots of skipping scenes and a lot of sudden events, The person who had left appeared suddenly.
I thought that Jiang Ziya's death was only known by Yang Jian and others. Why did the whole city know?，And what they said is that it seems that many years have passed, why plant fruits so quickly? It seems that more than a year has passed, but Yang Jian and the others have left only a few days, at most only one month or two months, and why is Lei Zhenzi so big?，， Confused me.,,, ep 6 said they married 49 years, ep 42, ma xiao hong said they married 47 years the time period does not increase in number but is getting shorter,

Ep 26 shen gong bao said that the king was possessed by a demon, but I did not remember such a plot. Why did it happen like this? What I know is concubine su was possessed.,,
I thought this was just nonsense by Shen Gongbao. Why did it happen? ?

Ep 44,,, bo yi kao and his official discuss about go to zhao ge to bring his father back,, It seems that many years have passed, but how many years have passed?,,, So if many years have passed, why haven’t lanying and jifa reached xiqi yet?，，，Isn't it obvious?,, Am I stupid, or the director and screenwriter?

Ep 46, The timing is not very suitable, I just wanted to accept how long Ji Chang was detained at Zhao Ge, and when Jiang Zi Ya and Ji Fa left for Xiqi , why did jifa go first, but first arrived xiqi is jiang zi ya, even though it was said that jichang had been detained in Zhao Ge for years ,,, and suddenly returned to the Jian scene, which was in Jifa there for almost a month , in yang Jian only 1 night ,,,,,
How old is Lei Zenji, even though it has passed for at least 1 year, and if it has passed 7 year,then the situation of yang jian did not make sense , and when jiang zi ya said to yang jian about lei zhen zi? They leave zhao ge after ji chang being hostage,,, OMAIGAT THE TIMING AND EDITING....., WORST VERY WORST,

Ep 49 long xu hu, jiang zi ya not said to him the new dynasty name just said he should help xiqi to fight with shang,, but he already know the new dynasty is zhou dynasty

And since when did Huang Fei Hu get rough with the king?

Ji fa havent rebel, but call his father as " fu huang" not "die" ,he's not king yet, and later in ep 51 he called his father as " fu hou"

"zhou dynasty" how they get the name? Are there any rules in naming dynasties?,, why ji chang also know the new dynasty is zhou dynasty? Even jiang ziya not telling him?,,


Ep 54,, isn't Wu Cheng Wang's wife dead? a year after Tianhua missing? , in fiction or history Tianhua is the son of Lady Jia ( eps 18) ,but why da ji can use lady jia to sabotage t&e king and wucheng wang?
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‎very funny, wen tai shi said, he was willing to eradicate the rebellion if the king did the 7 things he suggested, but it had not been implemented wen tai shi had disappeared

the funniest in ep 64, Wentaishi's generals can immortal skill ,, it still makes sense if only Wentaishi, because it has a divine weapon for example?


Isn't it said that Wuchenwang's weapon is a divine weapon? can't be held by any people? , why nezha so easily can steal and hold it? does not make sense


It’s ridiculous, wucheng wang, he died before he met his son. Didn’t it said that his son would save him when he was at his most dangerous time?
Yinjiao also died like this, longxuhu, zixu, daji

Ep 65, And in last two scrolls who became immortality? , its not finished yet,, not immortality su hu of jizhou, but immortality the traitor
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Shout out to Peach Blossom! I honestly didn't like the draggy parts where The demon girl was being a brat. I would have loved to truly see her background like why are going around claiming Fuqin's. I did like that she could not be bested in beverages. That twist at the end with her new role and her fate was like Woah. Jang Zi Ya was endearing more and more for me with each episode. He showed his growth as a character/ master as well. Su Da Ji what a piece of work but she played her character well. I really can say even though Her and Fox Demon switched morals it seems I honestly thought she would end up with a better fate but how was she able to use magic? Poor YJian his mom is still that way and he never yearned to see her. Even though he was the main lead he was tossed around quite a bit. It's a shame they didn't show more development of his Eye of Heaven. I didn't understand if he took that other role like the Demon girl. RIP to the poor women of the Harem, Loyal Ministers and Royal Lineage(Did he become a sword spirit). They did not deserve that. Oh, Minister Fei's Faced was CGI'D the whole time lol. I couldn't understand why. I hope they release the full version and that will clear up things but there is a book to read so it's not an issue. I got more WTH, compliments, and questions but I'll stop right here...

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Worst Ever!

This is a short review. Simply because there is nothing to review. Luo Jin's one dimensional acting makes him so pathetic from beginning to end. And He is the lead? Claudia Wang at least gave us 2 dimensional acting but for her to be the most beautiful woman in the world. what a typecast. Dont get me started on Yu Hei Wei. I know Jiang Jiya was slow but the one who played him tried hard to act slow. The CMG was inconsistent most of the time and even with the lavish costumes and props, all the extras look like market vendors. Cant they find taller and more fit men to be soldiers?
Direction was pretty bad. Lu Xing was better (just slightly) as an actor. He played around with the original story now im all confused and disgusted. There is a big big difference between being contemporary and staying true to the storyline.
OMG the music should have just taken over all the speaking parts. It was loud most of the times that it made the whole scene look like MTV.
Investiture has always been hard to figure out but this version just made it to Guinness for being the biggest and largest pile of blob ever. Avoid pls.

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