Love and Destiny (2019)

Really wanted to like it!

This drama started off well, and had the potential to be really good. It has a great cast to work from, and leads with great chemistry who are acting their asses off. Unfortunately the weight of the plot started to fold in on itself around the halfway mark, and the characters to progressively worse. Their decision-making skills tanked, the romance got toxic and the plot started to just not make sense.

Overall, this was sad because I wanted this to be really good. If you are a fan of this type of drama or these actors, give it a try. You might get some enjoyment out of it. Unfortunately it left me with a sour taste in my mouth.

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Since Love and Destiny and 10 miles peach of blossoms aka Eternal love are produced by the same production team and are both fantasy dramas, fans of Eternal love would definitely compare the two.
But in terms of plot, Eternal love is slightly better and there are many people who have compared these two, I won’t do so anymore.

Love and Destiny,itself, is still a wonderful drama, and might be one of those fantasy dramas I have ever watched.
Here are the reasons why;
1. Acting
Ni Ni and Chang Chen are one of the reasons why this drama is so popular.Ni Ni, as a veteran actress, portrayed her character beautifully, she fits in her character and carried the whole drama together with Chang Chen. Chang Chen, also is impressive as well. I have never watched his dramas and he is not very handsome but I’d still agree that I enjoy him as Jiu Chen.

2.Plot
Being a fan of Fantasy dramas, I’m accustomed to watching demon staffs. The plot is tight-woven, it is includes some light comedy scenes which made the drama even more interesting.

3.CGI
CGI is so much improved compared to Ice Fantasy which is also directed by Lin Yu Fen.Yet, it is still not perfect but it is watchable.

4. Director
Lin Yu Fen is indeed a master of Fantasy dramas. She directed Eternal love, Chinese paladins 3, The journey of flower and of course Love and Destiny is one of her best works.

5.Music
Using famous singers like Jane Zhang, Aska Yang and Zhang Bi Chen, theme songs are indeed very good.

6. Rewatch value
I’d still rewatch it after a few years( maybe next year).

Love and Destiny is an amazing drama owing to the production team yet I’d still say Eternal love is still the best fantasy drama.

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I procrastinated whether I wanted to watch this drama for a long time because of reviews that I've read. But in the end, I decided to give it a shot.

The acting is great! The cgi wasn't cringy or bad at all like some of the wuxia dramas. The costumes are nicely colored and the main leads had more options. The music is very catchy! Sometimes caught myself humming along!

The story may go slow and the romance may develop slow but it would gradually grow on you. Also, you will laugh, feel butterflies, get mad/pissed off, and cry (not much though).

I recommend everyone to give it a shot. I don't like writing too much and I hoped everyone enjoys this show while watching! <3

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Let me just say that this was a stunning piece of work by everyone involved. Yes, there are tropes here that are common in all these dramas, but they are never over the top and don't give you eye rolls...for example, the piggy back ride or the scenes with rain. Minor tropes, but there are other that may be more glaring, HOWEVER, this is a love story and nothing really drags out so it all works. I loved Chang Chen and Ni Ni on screen together. They are what is the best part of this drama. Chang Chen plays the God of War really well and is at his best when he's on screen with Ni Ni. And what can I say about Ni Ni? That women played Ling Xi really well. Yes, she may come out as the typical free spirited girl that goes bonkers for the God of War, BUT she's not the typical "save me" kind of character. I loved her free spirit and I loved that she took charge of pushing the God of War to face his true feelings. AND when I mean she pushed the guy...oooohhhhh my goodness! Bravo Ling Xi! Bravo! Finally, I loved seeing Jessie Zhang kick ass in this. I've seen her in two other dramas and in both dramas I didn't care about her characters. They were the typical and annoying third wheel...however, her character in this, Quing Yao, was fearless and kick ass. She wasn't afraid to roll up to the Gods and tell them whats what when it came to saving her friend. Overall, this drama made me smile and I loved escaping into this world every chance I got. If you are looking for a great time and a beautiful love story, this one is it. Enjoy!

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I was initially skeptical about this drama at first and only started to watch to fill my void waiting for The Pillow Book to come out, but wow was I pleasantly surprised. The casting was SPOT-ON, in my opinion there's no one that could really portray this complex GoW character like Chang Chen, and his amazing chemistry with Ni Ni was just unbelievable. Ten Miles of Peach Blossom was always a favorite of mine, and now I must admit that this drama has taken over that spot in my heart and it's all due to Chang Chen's acting talents. I loved every bit of his character, his many micro facial expressions, his sternness, his seriousness, his silliness, and his childishness. I also find Chang Chen's Jiu Chen character to be more lovable than Mark Chao's Ye Hua character (and trust me, up until a few weeks ago Ye Hua was the man) because Jiu Chen not only loved his woman with all his heart and willing to protect her with his life, he's also quite expressive with his words, I mean between his many facial expressions to his witty comebacks they're comedy gold. Ohh and the costumes in this drama is just eye candy. Another strength this drama has is the growth and emphasis of the heroin, Ling Xi evolved from a sheltered girl to a strong-willed and powerful woman who can think for the good of mankind and the personal sacrifices she must make. Let's just say the drama is over and I'm still obsessed over it, I've gone back to even rewatching it so I can understand the dialogs more. Highly highly recommend!! :)

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Perfect

From the same team that gave us Eternal Love and yes, the story is somewhat similar but I didn’t expect to love the series so much that I’d want to buy it.

Chang Chen and Ni Ni had great chemistry. Chang Chen’s intense and passionate personality made him perfect for the God of War’s, and often clueless about women, character. Ni Ni was amazing at being the young, vulnerable yet strong girl. She even made me tear up a couple of times. The rest of the cast were well chosen so overall, the series was interesting and enjoyable to watch.

The original soundtrack also added so much to the series, especially the songs by Aska Yang (opening) and Jane Zhang (ending) that were perfect to set the mood. Both are now part of my favorite playlist.

The kissing scenes were finally real. I’m not sure why kissing scenes, in most drama, are quite pathetic with actors kissing with their lips so tight you’d think they are kissing against their will.

As for the story, yes, it was similar to all others. Fall in love, a couple of jealous and envious villains but in the end, the lovers are reunited.

I hope to be able to buy that series on Amazon, in the meantime, I’ll surely rewatch it a couple of times.

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When I first watched it, I found it very displeasing that they changed every one of the cast. Really looked forward to seeing the old members of TMOPB. Besides that I didn't really find the male actor pleasing to the eye. But after watching this serie I have to say that I even liked this more than ten miles of peach blossom!! Mostly because I think the love story is written better. He has much more reason to fall in love with her than in TMOPB. Also the god of war even though not necessarily handsome, but his acting skills were spot on. Definitely recommend to watch! Besides that I really enjoyed the music. It does give it that extra.

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Good start, lost its momentum

“Like you. Care about you. Pine for you.” – Jiu Chen.

I cannot help but make a comparison. While “Eternal Love” pierced my heart, this one only gave it a little nudge that was forgotten just as fast as it came. I was immediately sold, episode 1 had an engaging start and I knew I had another banger on my hand. I think the show was nice up until Ling Xi was killed (episode 23 I believe). The beginning of her mortal arc was good too, but in the middle of the 30s, I started to get impatient. Starting episode 40, I started skipping like hell🫣.

The villains are a little more interesting here than they were in “Eternal Love” – at least for the most part. At first, I thought no one could outdo Su Jin, but Yuan Tong gave her a run for her money. YT is delusional on a different level because she was irrational and simply the cause of all her problems. Instead of accepting the fact that she was responsible for all bad things that happened to her family, she put the blame on others. Her victim complex got on my nerves so quickly, and of course, the stupid Heavenly immortals who put up with her crap for so long. The Shan Ling tribe adoptive daughter was annoying from start to finish, I skipped her parts a lot. She was just a spoiled and childish brat, and did not add anything vital to the storyline.
Another unfortunate thing is the female lead being such a reduced character. Supposedly a High God by the end of her three trials, we do not get to see her in action that much. Generally, I felt like she could have been stronger overall. Ni Ni’s acting was impeccable though🔥.
I really liked Qing Yao a lot – she was such a good big sister. Loyal and focused and always standing on business. She was a very consistent character💪🏻!

The acting in this was pretty nice. I think the leads had a good amount of chemistry, however, “Eternal Love” felt so much more sizzling and passionate🤭💞. EL had me in a chokehold, even with its annoying characters and plot. L&D on the other hand… after episode 40, I started getting a little tired of its length, meanwhile, I could not have dropped EL at that point – not even at gunpoint, that’s how obsessed and invested I was with the leads. I must admit that I skipped episodes 56-59 and watched episode 60 to be done with the show. The story would have been better if it had less episodes. Ling Xi’s second and third trial took so long to come after her first, the middle 30s to middle 40s episodes just… kind of dragged. Bit of a shame😪.

The sets, costumes, and CGI looked stunning – maybe even a little better than in EL; it just looked so good and fresh. Truly an eye candy! The OST… reminded me a lot of EL, but not as good. EL is so recognizable and iconic to me that this one felt like a cheap copy…🫣

The ending… it’s okay. How did Jiu Chen get out? A secret we’ll never know. The fact that they’re gatekeeping this part of the ending is a little annoying, but at least we can say it’s a happy ending, right? Overall, I’m a bit disappointed. Good start, weak middle, annoying and tedious in the end😞.

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This drama is a magnificent production. Love and Destiny seems to be a spinoff of Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms with a story about a destined love that spans across three lifetimes. On this drama, the cast, story, cinematography, costumes, music ... everything is done with finesses. There is great chemistry among the cast and between the leading couple. Although most of the romantic scenes could’ve been better, the feelings are beautiful and the imagery appeals to all your senses. The main and supporting cast did a great job bringing their characters to life and the leading actress is exceptional as she conveys all kinds of emotions. There are some clichés that were not needed, but overall, the drama is fantastic and very entertaining. Enjoy!

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A must watch drama in the deity/fantasy genre. Amazing acting and a well-written story.

Where can I start? I was never the biggest fan of this drama genre. The complex celestial hierarchies, the "fake" sets, the heavy and often cheap CGI of these dramas have put me off many times. I've only ever liked Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms but it never really captured my heart. I recently tried The Pillow Book but I was disappointed. For this reason I kept this drama on my to-watch list for more than a year, and I finally decided to start it only because of Ni Ni. I recently dropped Legend of The Phoenixes and wanted to see more of her. So yeah, I wasn't expecting much from this drama, but to my surprise... I ended up ABSOLUTELY LOVING it.

THE CHARACTERS/ACTING, A 10/10

The original title of this drama, Chen Xi Yuan, encapsulates what this story is about better than the English title does. Because this is the story of Jiu Chen and Ling Xi, who have quickly become my favorite power couple in this drama genre – I mean, they’re literally a dragon and a phoenix, THE power couple in Chinese culture. And it's the story of how fate (yuan) brings them together through a journey made of joy, suffering, sweetness and tears. And us along with them.

They are a power couple also because they are each other's equal, even if they start from very unbalanced positions. There is no overbearing male lead and powerless female lead; there's growth, respect and caring. There's saving each other and being each other's strength. Ling Xi is a FL who takes charge and takes the initiative. She's a tide (the "Xi" in her name) that sweeps away everyone and everything and especially a certain ancient, brooding high god. On the other hand, Jiu Chen ends up being the opposite of what you'd expect an all-powerful God of War to be: the most wholesome and adorable ML you could ask for – but still incredibly dashing and badass.

Ni Ni is gorgeous as always and is excellent at playing the cute and spirited Ling Xi and her evolutions: the sorrowful Lin Mo and the splendid high goddess she later becomes. Not a surprise as she's one of the most talented actresses around and always delivers amazing performances. Like I already mentioned, I started this drama because of her and she didn't disappoint a bit.

Chang Chen plays Jiu Chen as the aloof and respected Shen Zun perfectly, but he's also able to effortlessly pull off those little smiles he only has for Ling Xi and some of his closest friends. You can really see his character gradually softening and opening up due to Ling Xi's influence. I think Jiu Chen grows on you as the drama progresses just like Ling Xi grows on him. I also love how Chang Chen's eyes can speak without need for words. He's truly an amazing actor. I’ve seen some silly comments say that he’s too old, when maturity is precisely what this role requires. No 小鲜肉 (young and pretty idol actor) could have pulled off Shen Zun. An ancient God of War who has been carrying the weight of the universe on his shoulders for hundreds of years is just not that kind of "pretty face" role, and this is not that kind of story.

And can we talk about the kissing scenes? This is one of the few fantasy dramas I've watched where the kisses and the love/comfort scenes are actually in an adequate number, plus they don't shy away from showing real, actual kisses (you know, with the actors actually moving while kissing, which doesn't always happen in dramas) and showing characters yearning for physical contact. I love it.

I also want to talk a little about Jing Xiu. He's an amazing second lead/antagonist/villain, with a great performance by Ethan Li. Usually I dread the scenes where the second lead interferes with the main couple, but here I was looking forward to every interaction between him and Lin Mo during the mortal arc because they form such a beautiful bond born out of compassion and sharing the same mortal misfortunes. You never feel like the main ship is threatened by him, you just want to see how this interesting secondary relationship develops. And finally, I love how the final villain isn't just Very-Evil-CGI-Smoke-Demon-Lord but is a complex, well developed character like him.

Finally, a special mention to the supporting cast, particularly the Fuyun Dian squad. They're all fantastic and none of their side storylines ever feel like filler or like they're unnecessary.

THE WRITING/STORY

For a 60-episodes drama, the writing and the pacing are extremely good. You can feel this is not an IP novel turned into a drama and therefore subject to cuts and the addition of filler. This is a script thought, written and executed with a TV series in mind. The comedy and the fluff are also on point. This is a drama that had me laugh, giggle, and *muffled scream* basically every episode.
I'm giving 9/10 to the story for the reasons above, but I also have three main complaints with it:

1) The three big chunks in which the story is divided could have been better balanced, with a shorter second arc (mortal arc) and a longer finale. The final arc was good and satisfying but it deserved a liiittle more time.

2) The mortal arc starts dragging a bit around episodes 35-40. Those fluffy or comedic scenes, those moments when nothing really significant happens are cute and all in retrospective, but they do slow down the momentum of the story.

3) The story itself is nothing new in terms of genre or plot. It doesn't invent anything new never written before. It can be summarized as "good deities defeat bad guys and fall in love" like many already existing stories. BUT it does this better than most of the dramas in its genre. It doesn't drag or go off on a filler tangent for 10+ episodes; it doesn't overuse cheap misunderstandings or recycled tropes; it always treats its characters well and with respect.

THE MUSIC & TECHNICAL ASPECTS

I'm not a music expert so I'll just say that I like the OST and the songs, even though it wasn't "love at first hearing" with any of them. But they grew on me. "Shi Yuan" 是缘, the opening song, is probably my favorite. I also love how there are many song that are used rather sparsely in different moments and it's not just one or two songs being played every 5 minutes.

The production quality is very high. The sets are really beautiful and well made, the CGI is good. The backdrops are always gorgeous and look like paintings (I wanted to screenshot everything). The costumes and makeup are flawless, although I have to say I'm not the biggest fan of the male hairstyles, particularly Jiu Chen's standard, long-hair one. Chang Chen is still handsome, but with more hair volume on his head he would have looked sooo much better. Proof of this is the mortal arc scene when he lets his hair down. That's the volume he should have had in every scene *sigh*.

REWATCH VALUE

10/10 because on a rewatch you're able to pick all those details sprinkled here and there from the very beginning that only become very important later on, and notice once again how well-crafted the writing is.
But also, I believe these characters are so lovable and the acting is so good that they deserve more than one viewing. I'm definitely going to watch it again soon.

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As a fan of chinese mythology, it goes without saying that I fell in love with this. Nini is such a great actress, because of this, I fell for her. ML is also great at being cold, caring and everything. 2nd ML... hmm, he is good but his visual is kinda lacking...

The mortal realm arc is so draggyyyyy is skipped it. As like every c-drama ever where one of the protagonist need to disappear or go through something that they might end up dead, this one is no exception. But I still love it!

Music- Not particularly that awesome but one song got stuck in my head.

Story- pretty good.

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