Novoland: Pearl Eclipse (2021)

Journeys end in lovers meeting.

Pearl Eclipse is adapted from a beautiful, dark and tragic novel Madame Huzhu 斛珠夫人 set in the Novoland universe. It is an unforgettable and heartbreaking story about guilt, obsession, love and the futile struggle against fate that inextricably entangles the three main protagonists Fang Jianming, Emperor Dixu and Fang Haishi. Although the plot and many characterisations deviate markedly from the novel, the core message that we can choose our destiny but cannot overcome fate remains. Although not quite as dark as the novel, this is an angst filled, tortured tale about tragically flawed characters that won't appeal to everyone.

The novel has heavy BL elements to it and the incredibly dark, complicated and almost parasitical relationship between Dixu and Jianming is quite well portrayed in the drama. It is by far the most uniquely fascinating relationship in this drama because they are so entangled neither has free will. Poor Haishi, hers was a lost cause from the start because Jianming already was inextricably bonded to Dixu by ties far more powerful than the baixi. Their depth of shared history and sorrow and Jianming's sense of guilt and his obsession with putting Humpty Dumpty together again are practically insurmountable challenges. And to Jianming's credit, while undoubtedly tempted, he avoids Haishi's many overtures because he already pledged himself to Dixu.

The drama seems slow to start because it took all three leads a surprisingly long time to get into character and to convey the many layers of their intertwined backstories. This is made more difficult because their backstories are told in flashbacks which works well in novels but is harder to do onscreen when the actors are not in character. I don't think it is particularly fair to pick on only one of them but they are all rather seasoned actors so it is disappointing. Xu Kai Cheng overacted in the beginning and he and Chen Weiting were not connecting. Their unspoken rapport only becomes evident later on and that is when the drama starts to get interesting. Even though I find Chen Weiting incredibly handsome despite the terrible wig and enjoyed his performance overall, I don't think he managed to convey the multifaceted, fascinatingly complex character that is Fang Jianming. While he nails it as the archetypal ice-block, noble idiot shifu, a more daring and intense portrayal should have delivered a better glimpse into the dark ruthlessness, frustration and temptation that torments the character.

Haishi of the drama is well fleshed out and far better dimensioned than the novel. It is refreshing to see a brave, capable female character that speaks her mind and goes after her man relentlessly. And her outraged and shocked reaction to rejection just cracked me up because I am sure it is something that a flawless beauty like Yang Mi is personally not accustomed to. While Haishi and Jianming make for a stunning couple, their chemistry emerges slowly and it does fall far short of the sizzle of TMOPB. This is partly because it is supposed to be a hidden, taboo romance; one that is so incredibly ill fated that knowing better, Jianming avoids; while true to her nature, Haishi rushes recklessly headlong into. As much as I applaud Yang Mi for doing her own voice work here, it is a mediocre performance that reflects years of neglect in this area on her part. She already naturally has a young and very feminine voice that should not have been made even younger and quite so girlish. It does not fit the role of a woman passing herself off as a man and it conjures up uncomfortable images with respect to this already forbidden romance. Although she improves towards the end, I can't help but think her usual voice dubber would have elevated her performance considerably.

While I do not like the way Tilan was written, she is the catalyst that enables the drama to take another path. But it is unfair to have practically all of Dixu's darkness heaped upon her and their relationship got so toxic I struggled with the turn around, in particular on her part. She also seemed a lot stronger and smarter in the beginning where she passively aggressively standsup to Dixu. Unfortunately her character was truly thrown under the bus to enable the end outcome. Zhuoying and Zheliu have the only non dysfunctional relationship in this drama that is s welcome relief but oddly boring at the same time.

What I like most about the adaptation is how it is faithful to the novel in terms of how it takes us down the path of the dark, hopeless entanglement between the three main protagonists and then turns it around. At the darkest moment, Haishi convinces Dixu to give himself a second chance which sets in motion an unwind of this vicious circle into a virtuous one. One change leads to another that reveals another layer of each character and get to see them change and grow into a formidable, united force against their enemies. It is a very strong message that we can choose our destiny, ie. how we live our lives and even though ultimately we may or may not be able to overcome fate, the journey is more important than the destination.

This is a very high value production with lavish costumes, sets and some intense and brilliantly choreographed action scenes, notably the epic battle reminiscent of Lord of the Rings at Hangguan Pass. Yet despite a few riveting action scenes, this is largely a character story with very little plot movement. Despite a few thrilling encounters especially in the early episodes, the various sub plots to overthrow the emperor Dixu are not properly fleshed out and don't tie well together. There are interesting villains in the book that get dumbed down to obvious cartoon characters with boring motives that can't even hide well in plain sight. The ending feels like it is missing scenes and beloved characters like Zhuoying and Zheliu's story is ended cursorily almost as an afterthought. The final plot is anti-climatic, predictable and completely premised on the stupidity of two characters. The plight of the mer-folk, their tears for pearls and how this fantasy story that begins and should end with them gets lost as a result of changes made to the character stories.

I have very mixed feelings about the ending. I think the most fitting way to end this is about 20 minutes into the penultimate episode (47) where journeys end in lovers meeting. The final episode and outcome for most of the couples are not deserved, made worse by a weak and rushed end plot that is not earned. They ought to have stopped while they were ahead. That said, Haishi and Jianming's final scene is both actors most moving and resonating performance in the entire drama. But while superficially the important aspects of the drama are faithful to the novel, the final product lacks the finesse, symmetry and haunting dark and cruel inevitably of the novel. The novel is fated and inexorable while the drama is fated and unnecessary. I rate this between 7.5-8.5; it will feel more like an 8.5 to those who stop ~20 minutes into episode 47.

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Top-notch production that leaves you craving for more!

The scenery in this drama is simply breathtaking, especially the Jifeng Pavillion with its elegant woodwork and raining white petals that look almost like snow. The costumes, action scenes and CGI are also on point. I'm genuinely impressed with the high-quality production.

It has a very similar feel to Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms and The Journey of Flower, which were also directed by Lin Yu Fen, perhaps a little darker and less fantasy-like. And just in case you're wondering, Pearl Eclipse is pretty much stand-alone so no need to watch the others in the Novoland series beforehand.

The drama starts off with a master-disciple relationship between Fang Jianming and Fang Haishi that would soon blossom into a bittersweet and forbidden romance, where they're destined to meet but still restrained in many ways. It's not supposed to be a straightforward love, but rather the slow-burn and somewhat tormenting type. Yet, this is what makes those rare moments of sweetness even more precious. Personally, I find that the real charm of this show lies in its maturity and character development. But do get prepared, because you'll be taken on one crazy rollercoaster ride!

Yang Mi is literally in her element here playing a strong, cross-dressing FL. Despite the age difference, she still pulls off the role of the playful yet smart and daring young master Haishi very naturally. I think having Yang Mi doing her own dubbing really helps as well, so all credits to her. And those intense fighting scenes radiate some serious badass FL energy. I nearly forgot to breathe watching her shoot archery while spinning 360 on horseback! As she becomes Madam Pearl, we get to see Haishi swapping her boyish charms for a more mature and elegant persona, highlighting the different phases of her life. I particularly love her sibling bickering with Zhouying, they're such a hilarious comedy duo. But as much as they would tease each other, you can also feel their deep sibling bond and how they always have each other's back, especially Zhouying being the caring big brother that he is.

I'm going to be honest here, it took me a couple of eps to warm up to William Chan as Fang Jianming. I found his hairstyle a bit flat and awkward at first but I've grown fond of it gradually. He's graceful and calm normally but also fierce and intimidating when the occasion calls for it. I love how he's so protective of his disciples despite the cold front and prefers to selflessly suffer in silence, like all our favourite C-drama kuuderes (ahem... Ye Hua, Bai Zi Hua, Zhou Sheng Chen just to name a few). However, he's way too loyal and devoted to the Emperor that it's almost to a fault. It makes me often wonder whether they should just marry each other... Oh wait, they kind of did with the Baixi oath, where Fang Jianmiang has to act as a body double and shoulder all the injuries that befall Emperor Xu. This is surely not the 'love triangle' I had quite expected. Poor Haishi, it looks like she'll have a very fierce rival to beat, the bromance.

We're also greeted with another 2 couples along the way: Emperor Xu and Tilan, Zhuoying and Zheliu. While the fates of all 6 characters are very much intertwined, each couple still has its own pace and storyline.

The Emperor... sometimes I just want to reach across the screen and slap him hard. The guy can be so exasperating at times. His attitude towards Tilan at the beginning is uncalled for, regardless of his past suffering. As a ruler, Emperor Xu is not greedy or evil but he's not exactly empathetic or prudent either. Fortunately, his temperament does get much better and I quite like his 'passionate' bromance with Fang Jianming, as complicated as it may be. On the other hand, Tilan is portrayed as kind and supportive but I do find her character a bit weak sometimes. I guess her being a "caged bird", restricted by her royal upbringing and female status, serves as a contrast to Haishi who's "free" like a falcon having been raised as a boy in the imperial secret force.

Zhuoying and Zheliu is that one couple that you can never get enough of. I love how sweet and innocent their love is. It's adorkable seeing Zhouying gets all shy and love-struck in front of Zheliu, and then getting teased by Haishi for it. I kind of wish this couple has more screen time because the other 2 couples can get a bit too heavy at times.

I don't think there's much to say for the OSTs. I mean you open with Zhang Bichen and end with Zhou Shen, 2 of the best historical OST singers out there, so nothing can't go wrong. And the lyrics are so poetic and fit the story really well. Overall, it's a solid show with great cinematography and many unpredictable twists and turns. If you enjoy a good historical drama and not afraid to put your heart on the line, then this gem is for you.

FAVOURITE QUOTES:

"In our line of duty, people could die any minute. Every time we parted, it could be forever. So, I’m not afraid of death. I’m afraid that [Master] push me away or let me go.” Fang Haishi

"I don’t want [Haishi] to follow in my footsteps or take my path. She can’t be another Fang Jianming because I know better than anyone how painful that is. I don’t regret living like this but I hope the one I love can lead a normal and happy life.” Fang Jiangming

"[Emperor Xu] is my best friend. He is more important than my life. I took an oath to be faithful to him." Fang Jiangming

“All these years, others all think I’ve been tolerating Xu or even indulging him, but the truth is, I just want to protect him. The tougher he looks on the outside, the softer he is on the inside… as an emperor, he couldn’t share his pain with anyone.” Fang Jiangming

“Jianming, I’ve never expected you to be a loyal official. All I want is for you to live a carefree and happy life.” Emperor Xu

"Jianming, don’t underestimate Fang Haishi's feelings for you. Even if I don’t tell her, she knows you’re in a tough spot and she will do everything to protect you.” Emperor Xu

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Dedication, Devotion & Sacrifice

This is a story of a dedicated friendship to an Emperor, a devoted love to a “shifu” (teacher) and the sacrifices of the main characters for the greater good. The romance is heart breaking and the bromance is heartwarming. Adapted from a novel which I haven’t read, some of the characters are said to have tamped down to make them less ruthless and more likeable according to some readers. All in all, this is a high quality production with recognizable actors and a beautiful storyline.

In recent months, there have been a few dramas with the theme of romance between teacher/shifu and student/disciple. This is one of them, and I can’t help thinking, “Is this a recent fad?” I don’t want to get into the morality of such a relationship and will leave discussions to the viewers. Without having read its plot in the novel, how the adaptation turns out here is very plausible and palatable for most viewers.

Ye Hai Shi (Yang Mi) is rescued and adopted by Fang Jian Ming (Chen Wei Ting aka William Chen) when she is very young. Under adoption, she's disguised as a man and changes name to Fang Hai Shi. He teaches her everything from academics to combats. In the process, she admires and falls in love with him, and he is also attracted to her as she grows up. Whenever he detects danger, he always comes to her without fail, as she is precious to him. But he cannot be what she wants, a lover or a spouse, because he is a “baixi” for the Emperor, an invisible link whereby he would endure harm, pains and death for the Emperor. It is this type of love-and-pain relationship that propels the story and makes the characters lovable and the viewers empathize with them. Together with Zhuo Ying (Wang Sen), another Fang Jian Ming’s adopted disciple, they form a spy ring cum secret service for the Emperor.

I love the young actor who plays the juvenile Ye Hai Shi. She has an innocent face, and yet exudes a charisma of a boy - among others, strong, forward, fearless. Yang Mi plays the adult Ye Hai Shi / Fang Hai Shi with a different charisma, giving viewers a different feeling for the character. Here under her, Fang Hai Shi is still headstrong and valiant, at the same time, very feminine even when she dresses as a man. When leading her soldiers fighting the enemies, Yang Mi’s acting is passable but lacks the robustness of a male general. When facing her shifu, Yang Mi is like a little girl secretly admiring a lover, peeking at him under her lush eye lashes - that, she scores 100%. Many complaints of Yang Mi stem from her using her own voice in the dubbing. Though she has a very unique and nice voice, as a commanding general, her voice sounds too girly, and as a woman, she sounds too mechanical and lacks the spontaneity a woman normally possesses.

As a veteran actor, it’s not a coincidence that most of Yang Mi’s co-stars for her major works are not from mainland China. In this case, Chen Wei Ting is from Hong Kong. Though part of China, Hong Kong has its own movie industry and actors, and has very different values and styles. Very popular as an actor, however this is my first Chen Wei Ting’s work. I love the Fang Jian Ming character he plays here. I also love his styling though some viewers complain about his look as well as his acting. Despite not being 100%, I still like Chen Wei Ting’s portrayal as a calm, scheming, dedicated, strong fighter character with great physique cladding in white.

Xu Kai Cheng’s portrayal as the Emperor seems on and off. The strong friendship he has with Fang Jian Ming is heartwarming but at times, confusing due to the inconsistency in Xu Kai Cheng’s acting. Playing a supporting character Zhuo Ying, in fact, I’m most impressed by Wang Sen’s acting. I love the dynamics he has with Fang Hai Shi as siblings. I also love the devotion and commitment he has with his shifu and the Emperor, and not least, I love the undying love and dedication he has for a woman he secretly admires. Acting also as his cruel look-alike brother, Duo Luo who has a totally different personality and demeanor, Wang Sen aces in both characters he plays. I am particularly impressed by the scene when he has a hand-to-hand combat with his brother. The fighting is so real and heart-pounding that it is one of the best scenes in the drama.

There are multiple villains here, most are right there in the open with blatant disguises. Compared with the original version in the novel, these villains seem to have died of easy and quick deaths.

Perhaps what I love the most about this drama is how they have adapted for the fate of both the main characters, Fang Hai Shi and Fang Jian Ming. From the novel, the Emperor somehow develops feelings for Fang Hai Shi and forcefully takes her away from his best friend to become his consort. Such action does not go down well with today’s viewers. The adaptation is swift and brilliant such that, though Fang Hai Shi still becomes a consort, it is a plan by Fang Jian Ming to protect her by stashing her away with the Emperor for safe keeping. So in the end, both couples - the Emperor/Ti Lan (Chen Xiao Yun) and Fang Hai Shi/Fang Jian Ming - are still faithful to and for each other only. This is a big relief for all romance buffs.

I just wish the sub plots are more prominently told especially with the Zhuo Ying’s arc, instead of the scenes being played out in his communication with his shifu and Hai Shi. Zhuo Ying is indeed a very impressive character and his story captivating.

My Verdict
This is a fantasy story that involves supernatural beings like a talking mermaid (and a few others), and dark magic. The CGIs are very good with very convincing sceneries, people and fighting scenes. There is no need to watch other Novoland series before this one as they are not related. The pace is very fast especially with the wuxia fighting scenes executed with heart throbbing beating drum.

Half-way through airing, the drama has a very low rating of 4.9 on Douban. It’s gone up slightly at the end of airing at 5.1. Many viewers do not like Yang Mi for various reasons - her look, her acting, her voice. Others don’t like Chen Wei Ting. Online criticism is ferocious. Don’t be disheartened by such poor ratings and negative comments because, flaws there maybe, this is still a wonderful and beautiful story with amazing characters, a lot of great scenes and commendable cinematography.

A great watch! Don’t miss it. Two Thumbs Up!

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Not good enough to be a great political, romance, or Novaland Wuxia/Xianxia drama

Completed - 12/25/2021

I am disappointed that I don't love "Novaland: Pearl Eclipse". I have such high expectations for this big production historical drama with Yang Mi, William Chan and Xu Kai Cheng. It took me about 15 episodes to get into the story and overall acting and leads chemistry are lacking. I feel that it tries to have everything in this drama - court politics, romance, friendship/loyalty, wars/battles - but it doesn't excel in any of them.

Acting
I can't help but keep on comparing William Chan to Allen Ren in "One & Only". Allen Ren has such big expressive eyes that he can convey his emotions really well, even when he played a self-controlled, reserved general who can't express his love for Bai Lu. On the other hand, William Chen has dead and bored eyes for most of the drama, except for the last couple episodes. His eyes are unable to convey how tortured he felt inside. And unfortunately, that makes his character even less likable to start. I did not root for him for the most part. Fortunately in the last couple episodes, he was able to portray a more free-spirited Jiang Ming and a really sad one in the end. Yang Mi did fine as she always does. I wouldn't say she was excellent, but fine. This my first Xu Kai Cheng drama and I felt that he overacted a little bit in the beginning when he was this crazy king. He toned it down later on and I start to enjoy his acting more. The other supporting cast was fine but not excellent.

Romance
I thought romance is a big driving force for this drama. We have 3 different romance storylines, but I am not satisfied with either of them.
*** Hai Shi (FL) and Jiang Ming (ML) - I don't feel their chemistry at all. I am supposed to root for them and to suffer with them. But in the end, I didn't feel anything. Although they are both smart, their romance is built on secrets. ML might have FL's best interest at heart, but this secretive protectiveness lasts too long. It didn't make for good drama and didn't make me root for their happily-ever-after ending.
***Emperor Di Xu (2ML) and Ti Lan (2FL) - their relationship started of as abusive and it was hard to watch. I understand why so many condemn such a romance. I might be a little more forgiving and I understand 2ML's heartbreaking past and also being the all-power emperor. I actually enjoyed their romance in the first half of the drama more than the main romance. I like that 2FL, though quiet, has the internal strength and stubbornness to passive-aggressively fight with 2ML. But the romance went downhill once 2FL forgave the emperor's wrongdoings too easily. She should have waited and let him beg for her mercy or at least use actions to show that he's sorry. But no, 2FL forgive and forget and move on. Then she becomes a useless character for the rest of the drama lost her little spunk.
***Zhuo Ying (3ML) and Zhe Liu (3FL) - I really like their sweet and innocent romance. They were a breath of fresh air when the other two romances are disappointing. Unfortunately, the drama did not give them the proper goodbye in the end. I wanted to see how they re-unite but it was all glossed over. I wanted to see more of them!

Bromance
This bromance between ML and 2ML is the best part of the show. It's deep, complex, frustrating and saddening. I enjoy scenes when the two of them are together. First when 2ML is always angry and ML has to calm him down. Then as we know more of their friendship, the dynamics becomes more entertaining. I think they have the best chemistry, even better than with their love interests.

Court Politics
***spoiler****
The reveal of the fake prince is underwhelming. Actually, he wasn't a good villain to begin with. Then at the end, how General Tang can so easily be deceived in rebelling is so dumb. He's supposed to be a great General, and he didn't care to do his own investigation and just blindly believe? I thought he had something evil brewing from the start, but there's nothing!

Production Quality, etc
It is without a doubt a drama with money. The costumes, accessories, and sets are elaborate and beautiful. That's why I was disappointed when the execution isn't there. We do not see cheap fabric or flimsy sets. We see beautiful rooms with wooden fixtures and soft candle lighting. It also has decent CGI with the sharks and mermaid. The OST sounds nice but not too memorable. I do appreciate that they don't overplay the theme songs nor use the BGM to force me to think and feel a certain way. As part of the Novoland universe, I was hoping to see more fight scenes. In the first few episodes, they had simple and slow-motion fights. A few better fight and battle scenes sprinkled throughout the drama, but not enough to satisfy my wuxia/xianxia thirst. The only "Novoland" part of this drama is the mermaid. I guess it might be too much to ask for the Winged Clan. It seems like almost all actors and actresses use their own voices, except for William Chan. People complain about Yang Mi's voice not being the same as in her other dramas. I guess fans are disappointed that she has such a young voice. I am all for actors using their own voices, but I do have to admit it was quite distracting and annoying to hear Yang Mi's young voice when she's supposed to be a boy/man. Her voice does sound deeper when she became a soldier/general. I also find the voice and the way Zi Lan (3FL) talks a little annoying.

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You either hate it, or you're absolutely obsessed with it. There's no in-between.

This drama is not for everyone.

But it is for people who have an open mind and an open heart. Because this drama gives you the story you need, but maybe not the one you wanted.

Let me explain.

This drama is a typical costume drama with court politics, schemes, epic battle sequences, and stunning costumes. Now, what makes it special is that there is a fantasy element to it. And it comes in the form of a mermaid. Unexpected, I know. The fantasy element plays a small role in the overall story, but an important one, nonetheless.

Also, there’s a romance between a student (Haishi) and a master (Fang Jianming).

With this information in mind, you expect that you’ll get a mix of court drama that ends with the main characters falling in love. And at its core, that’s exactly what the show gives you.

Except, it also gives you three very unlikeable characters at the start of the show (Haishi, Fang Jianming and the Emperor). One struggles with unrequited love, one is emotionally inept, and the other is taking grieving to a dark level. So, naturally, there are moments where you might dislike the show because the characters are dislikeable.

But this show makes it very clear halfway through, that it’s a story about massive character transformation. All these characters go from unlikeable to immensely likeable. And the acting is strong enough to make these transformations convincing.

And what keeps you watching the show, despite the frustrating slow-burn romance and some annoying subplots, is how unpredictable the show is. Trust me, once you start the first episode, you’ll see what I mean.

To me, the show really picks up from episode 30 onwards. It took me 30 episodes to realize this show would be on my favourites of 2021. But, because of how unpredictable the plot is, it’ll be a breeze to get to episode 30 where everything starts falling into place.

Finally, if you’re like me, and you hate sad endings, you might be surprised how much you won’t regret watching this show despite the tears you might shed at the end.

Favourite thing about the show: The dialogue and character banter (I would pause, rewind, and replay a lot of lines).

Technical elements: Obviously, the OST is stunning. Diamond Zhang is on the record which is an automatic green flag. Also, this is a high-budget production so expect epic battle scenes, rich costumery and lush cinematography.

Some trigger warnings: sexual assault, self-harm, major character deaths, violence.

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Strong Start, Beautiful Production, Terrible Pacing and Mediocre Performances

As a long-time Yang Mi fan I was so disappointed, I feel like the best scenes we got from her was the archery and battle moments in the earlier half. The romance and longing plotline was basically all in her mind til halfway through, the performances were ok, not bad, but not their best at all. William Chan's flat hair was annoying at first but you get used to it and he goes back and forth between the bun hairdo and the longer one with the 2 side pieces. He's attractive, but it really diminished his beauty in some scenes. The music isn't the worst but after watching all the eps it barely registers in my brain and is not a stand out for sure. I feel like it's overrated because there's a lack of high budget costume dramas released this year, and after next year when a lot better ones air people will go back and be like yeah this is over rated, but I get how people are overly generous on this platform. I thought by far the 2nd couple's story was the most interesting, mainly just the Emperor's character. He's so interesting and intense, plus has the biggest character development

Not the worst drama but not the best. Am I harsh because I am a long time Cdrama viewer and now don't have the patience to sit through and enjoy dramas as I once did when I was newer and doe eyed? Sure, but even objectively this drama is a 7 at BEST. There's highs and lows, but in a couple of months I probably won't think twice about this drama, and any drama that I don't think about after it finishes is a BIG MEH to me. If you have nothing else to watch then by all means watch it, but don't go in with high expectations

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I want to hug each and everyone one of them.

*This is based on the first four episodes*

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Xu Kai Cheng's acting is a little questionable. His character is going through a difficult time and it should make me want to sympathize with him while wanting to slap some sense into him. However, it just feels like he is throwing a tantrum. I don't feel what he feels. It's like XKC and the drama are telling me what happened and not showing me. 7/10

William Chan's character is also very very tortured. Poor man. I feel his pain. Master Fang, I know you can't tell us why you are the way you are yet, but when you do we'll be here for you. 9/10

Yang Mi continues to be wonderful. I don't exactly know how old her character is yet (maybe between 17-20), but they're clearing turning into a capable Young Master. 10/10

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The costumes, the set, the choreographed fights and camera work is on point. Add in the amazing music and you've got the beginnings of a brilliant drama.

There were times when I laughed (when they introduced William's face to the camera, it was so dramatic), then times when I was STRESSED (when young Hai Shi was grabbing onto that rock). So great!!

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I have so many questions that I'm willing to watch all episodes to have answered. That's what a first episode should do...make the viewer want more and Pearl Eclipse delivered on their part. As I watched on, I got to know more and craved for more.

All-in-all a pretty great start.

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I'm getting Si Yin (YM's character in Eternal Love) and Mo Yuan vibes from this. And we all know how tragic that was...

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Only Yang Mi's drama can bring tears to my eyes. The ending is similar to Love In Between.

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A vastly different story in the Novoland universe which might not sit well with everyone...

There are vastly polarised opinions regarding the faithfulness NPE holds towards the original source material. Not being a fan of the original novel, this review may seem biased to a few of you. It also doesn't help that the summary for this drama is somewhat misleading. So here's my version for you -

Drama Summary:

NPE tells the story about the court & harem of the last dynasty in the eastern lands of Novoland, the Zheng dynasty. As Emperor Xu pines for his dead empress and neglects a lot of corruption there are political undercurrents threatening to upend his rule. Meanwhile, Fang Zhu a minister and his best friend rescues a girl Haishi; who has a strange encounter with a Naga, from a coastal town. He makes her his disciple and the drama focuses on her life as a undercover male who eventually becomes the personal guard of the Emperor Xu.

There are very few fantastic elements in this drama and it focuses mainly on realistic fight scenes, relationship woes, political history and angst.

Now, here are 5 reasons why you should watch this drama:

1. The female lead is strong minded and doesn't lose her maturity or senses when she is around the object of her affection. She appears capable and intelligent.

2. The secondary leads look good and the plot is interesting as well so I don't fast forward the secondary storyline.

3. Politics and military action are well balanced in this story. Neither of the two overpower the 'drama' that is happening between the various characters.

4. The romance is a slow burn and no one falls for the other at first sight. I'd rather say this drama is about yearning & the longing for love rather than any romance.

5. The production value is pretty good and so is the music.

And yet there are many reasons why you may not want to watch this show. I have kindly enumerated them for you:

1. The male lead is no longer a eunuch as in the original material & neither is he uninterested in the female lead. All of this means we end up hating on the ML for emotionally torturing the FL. And it doesn't help that a woman in her 30's is forced to act like a naive girl/man in the initial episodes.

2. The second male lead apparently needs to work on his line delivery (I don't understand Chinese so I cannot judge this but I liked XKC's acting and he made a very interesting King for me)

3. There is quite a lot of physical abuse in the initial episodes which might turn some people off as this drama is based on a 15 year old novel.

4. For people used to watching xanxia/wuxia dramas where the plot moves really fast the relatively slow pace of this drama might get tiresome. Compared to other Novoland stories, this drama has less action and more intrigue. And believe it or not, the pace reduces even further as we reach the climax of the drama.

5. It could be disconcerting to hear the ML's voice as it is dubbed by the same voice actor that dubbed for a major character from TMOPB.

Story:

Read above points to understand how the story is. But let me summarise for you: you don't need to concentrate on this story if you are a native speaker. You could be doing your chores and watching this in the background and you'd be totally fine.

Acting:

Yang Mi was good at portraying her frustrations with her Shifu. Shifu had a wooden expression but since his character is the cliche taciturn ML it didn't really matter. The emperor ZKC looked crazy for the first few episodes (I loved his acting here the best) and then later turned into a sane but frustrated emperor. I think the acting was okay but as mentioned earlier his line delivery might throw native speakers off. Consort Shurang was okay and so were Zhouying & the embroiderer.
All in all the acting was good considering this is a wuxia/fantasy.

Overall:

I found the cast & pairing pretty okay and the story quite interesting. I think if you are expecting a fast paced high fantasy action series or a sweet historical romance it's safe to say you will be disappointed. Personally, I have enjoyed this drama more than I expected to.

While the drama does drag on a bit and the romance (what little is there) is as slow as molasses, the tragic story itself makes one addicted to watching it. The last ten episodes could have been condensed into 4 episodes and this would have received a solid 8.5 from me but unfortunately the scriptwriters didn't ask for my advice.

As it is, this is a 7.5/10. (It's sole grace being none of the characters were irritating so I could finish this series with a bit of fast-forwarding of the last few episodes and yet I enjoyed watching this show).

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Beautiful but Painful is worth to watch

This drama Is very worth to watch and this is not a typical love story. In this drama you learn about the different kind of love, friendship, hardship, sacrifices,understanding ,pain and so on. I love the evolution of character and the story line.

In every episode you feel the love in every character especially to Haishi and Shifu but it was a painful love but it will drive you in a addiction way to watch even they always gave pain in your heart.

Hai shi- a brave girl that do everything for Shifu. I like her character she is bold type person and she can say everything she want. She will do everything for Shifu. And the way she understands everything like in the ending, she need to support Shifu and the country even that they never be together for the sake of the country.

Fang Jiaming- a principle man that he will give all of his life for the sake of the country and people that he love. The ways he took care and teach Zhou ying and Haishi bec he see that this two can make a good leader in the country in the future. A selfless man and like what they say in the official trailer Shifu give the biggest or all sacrifice of the sake of the country. He is a person, duty first before love. I like how he always want to save the emperor his bff even it will take away his own life, and his love for Haishi. He is loyal to everyone

Emperor- he supper too ...by Lossing his first love. You will understand why he act that way when she see Ti lan for the first time. And I like bonding between Shifu and the emperor.

Ti lan- she is a nice princess and she always understand everything even she will be punish.

All the cast,crew, director and writers very good job. You give us a roller coaster feeling's in every episode.

It is very Worth to watch guys!!! Always bring tissue paper 😂

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Beautiful Story and Good Chemistry

Watching Novoland: Pearl Eclipse, it was like falling asleep and having a very long dream.

I watched Haishi's growth from a child to a person of great responsibility. Her life experience was not an easy journey. Her encounter with Fang Jianming not only changed her, it changed Jianming as well. Relationships that change each other to be a better person.

Ti Lan and Di Xu were originally stubborn and hurtful to each other, but who would have thought that they would support each other? Even when they finally live and die together, their story is too beautiful but painful to watch.

Zhe Liu and Fang Zhuoying started things off in silence, supporting calmly, even though things weren't easy for them with each other.

Well, there is no perfect ending, but this ending is probably the best. Watch Pearl Eclipse makes me feel like I'm dreaming of a place where magic is real and the beauty of love is believable. Now the dream is over and it's time to wake up again. May you experience the beauty of their story and have sweet dreams too.

“在另一个世界，他们一定着很幸福的生活。”

(In another world, they must have a very happy life. )

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Love but can't own..

Spoiler free review:

Absolutely loved Novoland Pearl Eclipse..The love story between a master and disciple is handled very well with no cringeworthy or awkward scenes..

The main villain who is not a person plays a crucial role in our main couple loveline throughout the drama..Did they overcome it or not is their story!!!

The 2nd couple story is hate turned to love while the 3rd couple has an adorable love story..

The production is very grand..From costume, set designs, lighting, cinematography everything was just amazing..I especially loved all the soundtracks..The lyrics, the soulful voice were so in sync with the love story of the drama..

The ending of the drama is left to the viewers interpretation which I personally didn't like..But despite that I will definitely highly recommend this drama to everyone..Especially those who love student-teacher, age gap, forbidden, slow burn, girl pursuing guy romance trope..

Since this drama is adapted from the novel I would definitly suggest one to read it once after finishing this drama..They mostly kept the essence of the novel except the love triangle..Also toned down the darkness in it..

For me its a must watch drama!!!

I would suggest to at least try the 1st 14 episodes..Then decide whether to continue it or not..


If you want a detailed review...You can scroll down and read the below one..It has major spoilers..


Detailed review with spoiler:

Let me first say that I rarely watch cdrama due to number of episodes each drama have..No cdrama held my interest in the 1st episode itself like Novoland Pearl Eclipse did..I was hooked from the very 1st episode..Each and every episode were meaningful and not dragging at all..

Coming to the story..Let me divide it couplewise..

Fang Jianming - Haishi:

The love story of FangShi is so beautiful..Haishi was gets rescued by Fang Zhu when she was in a dire situation..He gives her a choice to be either a boy or girl..If girl she don't get eaily life but safety..If boy she gets everything but safety..HS chose to be a boy..She becomes disciple of Fang Zhu..While growing up inadvertently she fall for her shifu..It starts with a crush..So as she ages she silently keeps loving him..Fang Zhu who first didn't want to get married due to him being a baixi ( where one gets blood bonded with another person where they become human amulet for other taking all the hurt and pain) to Emperor couldn't help but fall for Haishi's beauty, character and her boldness..But being her shifu and Emperor's baixi he refuses to confess and right away rejects when she confesses her feelings..They both can't be helped but drawn closer however they resist..After many obstacles Fang Jianming becomes selfish for once and gets married to Haishi in private..But fate had other plan..They had to get separated due to the evil Prince Ji Chang who comes to know that HS is a girl and also him getting poisoned which has no antidote..To protect HS..FJM has no option but give her to Emperor and make her his Consort..First HS was so livid seeing his betrayal..Then she comes to know about baixi and decides to help him to break the bond..Even after all these things she didn't once stop loving her shifu..As she knows he loves her and not cold hearted..When the opportunity arose they both escape and live happily after breaking baixi and getting cured of poison with the help of mermaid..But once again fate was cruel..Emperor and Tilan dies and the new born baby has respiratory problem and FJM left with no option but to become his baixi..They both take responsibility of the kid..HS becomes regent looking after the country and Emperor son..While FJM.after escaping from death once again becomes Fang Zhu and becomes grand master to his best friend Di Xu's son..

Its a bittersweet ending as FangShi can't be together publicly..Continue their affair in private with seemingly no ending of baixi..


What I mainly loved about FangShi love story is the way HS pursued shifu..Usually when a heroine falls in love first and pursue hero..They are clingy, annoying and a doormat..No matter how much the hero insults they still beg them to love but here that's not the case..When FJM rejects Haishi's confession..She does fight and question him for giving her mixed signals but don't beg him to love back..She silently loves him and goes on to to do her job..Showed how strong she is!!!

Emperor Di Xu - Tilan:

Emperor Di Xu loved Zizian so much..She was his one true love..After her death he become depressed so much..Zizian father decided to marry his other daughter Tilan to maintain peace..DX gets shocked to the core seeing she is a lookalike of his dead wife..He then keeps torturing her..Tilan being nice, kind girl..Tries her best to be patient with him and takes all the cruel things Emperor does to her..Even **** her..After a while she couldn't take his cruelty and snaps..Eventually he comes to his sane condition after taking advice from Haishi and starts behaving well with Tilan..And falls for her..They live happily and tho at first her body becomes weak due to birth control concoction she becomes pregnant..They live happily for a while..But Suolan who is brother of Tilan had other plans..He masterminds a rebellion and in that battle Emperor and Tilan both dies..Leaving their son on the hands of FJM..

The only problem I had with XuLan love is that Emperor crossed the line and **** her..If he didn't then it could have been one of the best hate turned to love story..

Zhouying - Zhe Liu:

Zhouying was recued by Fang Zhu and becomes disciple of him..He sees ZL and falls in love..ZY loves her secretly without showing his face..But due to a massacre by poisoning in Fabric Office where ZL works, she loses her eyesight..Even then he loves her deeply..But fate has other choice..ZY belongs to Huku tribe..He is destined to become King of his tribe and maintain peace with Dazheng..So Shifu asks ZL to fake taking her own life..After knowing ZL died ZY gets heartbroken but does what his shifu asks..He joins right tribe and gets married to Tara for political reasons..While ZL in hiding keeps being a spy..After ZY defeats his brother, reunites the Huku tribes and become King..ZL finds ZY after that and they get reunited and gets their HE..

I really loved their love story..It was cute and adorable..

Fang Jiangming - Emperor Di Xu:

I absolutely loved their friendhsip bonding..DX never wanted FJM to become his baixi..But FJM did that on his own during Prince Yi rebellion..As due to him DX lost Zizian and their unborn child..And also he had no one else but DX his best friend..He couldn't afford to lose him..So he did baixi to save him..Time and again DX wanted to break baixi but FJM clearly refused as he was scared he might take his own life..Now due to baixi he can't..As if he did its FJM who will die first..Tho initially Emperor is cruel to FJM due to taking away his rights to live or die, he with time becomes his old self..Throughout the drama we see how much he cares for FJM..So when FJM asks to break baixi bond as he is in love he becomes ecstatic and ready to do it..But instead was forced to make FJM lover HS his Consort on his request..When he gets another chance to break the baixi bond..He does it..And grants FJM wish to leave the palace and live somewhere else..Even tho he knew he gonna lose his friend and a brilliant officer he does it happily for him..In the end when DX dies..FJM once again ready to become his baixi and save him..But he refuses and asks him to take care of his kid..Which FJM does by becoming Prince Weiyun baixi..

Zhouying - Haishi:

I absolutely love their siblings bonding..The way how ZY always takes care of HS..Even both playing cupid to each other love..Their relationship was heartwarming and one of the best..


Haishi - Tilan:

They defined sisterhood..Tilan from not disclosing that Haishi is a girl to helping and comforting her when she becomes new consort..Always understanding and supportive..Loved their bonding..

Emperor - Eunuch Mu:

Their bonding is beautiful too..Initially they brought out the humor in the drama..And till ending Mu remained loyal to him..

Villains:

From Su Ming, Duoluo,fake Princess, Prince Ji Chang and the mastermind Suolan and his father..They all played their role well..Especially JC being fake was one of the shocking twist..

But for me baixi is the main villain in this story..Sadly it was not defeated..

Production, Costumes and Soundtracks:

The production is of high value..The drama looks likes its a movie..Costumes were so beautiful..Be it for actor or actress..Elegant..Its very rare for a drama to have all its OST to be amazing..But this drama has that..They are both soulful and touching with beautiful lyrics..

Acting:

Yang Mi:

She lived as Haishi..From a teen crushing on her shifu, girl in unrequited love, warrior, Imperial Guard, girl in requited love, as a boy in disguise, being a women forced to become Consort and later to becoming Empress..She nailed all the roles to perfection..

Willaim Chan:

He was the most misunderstood actor and character in the drama..For me he portrayed the role of shifu to perfection..A coldhearted person who shows no emotion..People who claim that he should have shown micro expressions through his eyes..I totally disagree..He should be a statue to show in difference..As people usually read others through eyes only..Its a give away..So being a person who shows no emotion, then in flashback being a carefree teenager, then a guy in love showing vulnerability, a warrior, a strategist, being hopelessly and happily in love, a guy in mask, then giving into fate..He nailed all these role to perfection..

Xu Kai Cheng:

From being a ruthless Emperor, to a guy hopelessly in love, then being depressed, warrior, fun loving person, a bipolar person, then coming out of depression and falling in love again..XKC portrayed all these roles amazingly..

Chen Xiao Yun:

For Tilan from being a naive, kindhearted girl..To when a situation arise standing up for herself and then showing empathy to Emperor, girl in love..

For Zizian..Girl who loves her hubby deeply..

All were portrayed beautifully by her..We can clearly see how both roles where different.

Wang Sen:

WS portrayed the double role amazingly..The evil DL and kind ZY, as a loving brother, as a loyal disciple, guy who lost his love, a guy who got everything in the end..All were portrayed very well..

Yuan Yu Xuan:

From being young naive girl to becoming a smart and intelligent spy who lost her eyesight..She absolutely slayed the role..

Chemistry:

YM & WC:

FangShi being my most favorite..I loved their chemistry the most..For me their chemistry was understated yet lit..Understandable due to shifu-student relationship..Also due to shifu being a pursued one rather than the pursuer..Totally get them..

XKC & CXY:

I loved DX - Zizian couple chemistry more..Tilan one was good too..

WS & YYX:

Their chemistry was beautiful and I loved them too..

One of the rarest of rare drama where in loved all couples in a cdrama..

My take on the ending:

Yes..I am happy Fang Jianming survived..But what's make me unhappy is that baixi returned..And its back to where the drama started..He becoming Fang Zhu and hiding his face with mask..

And even if FangShi had kids..Publicly they can't acknowledge them..And if HS has a son now..It would be known as Emperor son..Given how Weiyun is alive..In future its highly possible that FangShi son might become baixi to him too..So yes..I am highly disappointed with the ending..Its an open ending for me..

But nevertheless..I thoroughly enjoyed all the 48 episodes..Its the journey whats that matter..Like looking for new episodes daily..Discussing about the drama..And fangirling over FangShi..It was an amazing experience!!! So I will highly recommend this drama!!!

Reduced 0.5 ratings for story and rewatch value coz of the ending..

To those who are skeptical..Don't..Just try it for yourself till episode 14..If even then you don't find this drama interesting enough then this is not for you..

P.S: This is my first time reviewing a drama..No idea how its done too..So ignore any grammatical and typo error..Also feedback is appreciated..

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I was glued to the screen and binged in a few days

I'm not going to summarize the story. Other reviewers have already done this. I've watched up to episode 34 in a few days. I found myself glued to the screen. Now, that I've caught up, I can't wait for the last 6 episodes that air in a few days.

I love the cast:

Xu Kai Cheng's emotional swings in the beginning totally fit his heart break. As time passes, he has character growth and heals. He has great facial expressions to go with the scenes. When he chooses to move forward, I enjoy his relationship with Chen Xiao Yun's character. After watching the teasers for the remaining episodes, I'm curious how his relationship with change with Yang Mi's character. Side note: I enjoyed him in other dramas, too.

Yang Mi hits the mark with each scene and each stage of her character's life. If you like strong, capable, smart, witty, fun female characters that can hold their own (while appreciating it when the ML has their back), you'll likely like this one, too. I also enjoyed watching her in other dramas.

William Chan: Though he looks familiar, after looking at his other titles, I'm pretty sure that this is my first time seeing him. As they say in the drama, his character does a great job hiding his emotions. This, in part, helps prevent the viewer from guessing the next event before it happens. I don't like shows that are completely predictable.

I won't review every cast member/character. They're all valuable to the story. They did a great job adding to the story and weaving in and out of the lead characters' lives. If you watched any of the drama yet, you'll see that some of the actors play multiple characters in the drama. They did a great job acting with different personalities so it was easy to see the difference.

This story moves along and keeps you on the edge of your seat, most of the time. There was a time somewhere around episode 31-33 when the ML was again having flashbacks about the FL. While those give us insights into what the character was thinking about at the time, I was impatiently waiting for the next event.

This is my first Novoland experience and I enjoyed it. I will likely rewatch this drama, though the ending was definitely different than what I expected. Not exactly a very happy ending, but definitely not the sad ending I thought it would be either.

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