Love and Redemption (2020)

A Love Story That Is Truly A Treasure

Love and Redemption summed up for people who don't want to read this long review:
- Beautiful love story
- Misunderstandings could be frustrating for some
- Amazing acting from main and supporting leads
- Music with deep meaning and value
- Highly recommended for Xianxia romance lovers

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Love and Redemption is truly a treasure. You know that a drama is a treasure when you try to find that special word to describe it, but instead come up with many. Everything is so beautifully acted out and composed, and the ending result of the directors, actors, and others' hard work is a drama that will make you laugh and cry until you can't anymore. It really shows the importance of the three kinds of love: the love between lovers, love between friends, and love between your family. The setting and special effects all seem so real, and the costumes are just so intricate and beautiful, which makes this rare gem even better. And this drama is not only fun to watch, but it also teaches us life lessons on friendship, loyalty, and love. Over 200,000 people in China have rated this drama on Douban, and it is extremely popular.

Story: 9.5-
Love and Redemption was adapted from the Chinese novel The Glass Maiden （琉璃美人煞）, and has parts similar to those of Ashes of Love and Eternal Love, being a love story that lasts for quite a long time. (ten lifetimes, to be exact) The love story, like most, encounters various frustrating problems but is one that shows the beauty and sweetness of true love, and how we strive for it. Chu Xuanji and Yu Sifeng are truly a match made in heaven, but it just took them longer to find their happy ending.

Love and Redemption has become one of my favorite c-dramas, but the reason why I did not give the story 10 is that while the misunderstandings made the story more captivating and interesting, I felt like there might have been too many of them, which made it quite frustrating sometimes. If you’re a person who can’t stand long term misunderstandings, this may not be the perfect drama for you, but when the misunderstandings are slowly unraveled, it is certainly satisfying. Another smaller reason is the editing. The cinematography was gorgeous throughout the whole show, but some scenes (mostly the sweet ones in the last few episodes or so) had rather bad editing, which disappointed me, as I had seen the scene in the trailer but the one released was edited differently. Well, no drama is perfect.

This love story is certainly one that is very special and memorable. All male leads in romance dramas are willing to do things for the female lead, but Yu Sifeng takes this male lead image to a whole new level. I sometimes wonder how he can do so much for Xuanji even if he knows she may misunderstand him. In the first few episodes, Xuanji is portrayed as a clueless girl, which frustrated a large number of watchers. After she regains what she was deprived of, she turns into one of the strongest female leads I know, protecting her love at all loves. The ending was happy and very satisfying as the good were paid for the good they did and the evil received retribution. While 59 episodes may seem long for some, it is definitely worth your time. In fact, you might even think that 59 episodes is far from enough.

Acting/cast: 10-
Many of these actors and actresses can be found in other dramas as leading and supporting roles, and their performance here was outstanding, especially the two main leads. Everyone's characters and personalities contrast greatly, and the actors acted their parts so well that many characters are either extremely loved, or extremely hated. And although I just wanted to simply stab the evil characters to death, I really need to give them a round of applause. The evil characters have so much personality that without them, there would be no drama. And their stories are all captivating, even if they are evil people with no sympathy or heart, especially Hao Chen and Wu Tong. They were both acted exceptionally well, as the actors showed their emotions and evilness quite well. Those two were the two main antagonists, along with Tianxu Sect Master, but both Hao Chen and Wu Tong found peace at the end. I really liked how this story showed how the evil characters accepted their fate, and their closures was one that was fulfilling.

The main leads, Crystal Yuan as Chu Xuanji, and Cheng Yi as Yu Sifeng have amazing chemistry, and their acting can truly make us feel the character's happiness, sorrow, anger, and pain, and not help but shed a few tears here and then. I almost never ship actors and actresses, but I just couldn't stop this awesome ship in my head. In my opinion, both actors did amazingly well here and showed the characters' thoughts and feelings very well. I have heard quite a lot of people comment that Cheng Yi did better than Bingyan, but I believe that they both acted spectacular well. Cheng Yi did kind of pop out though, because his portrayal of Sifeng is so accurate and heartbreaking at times. Bingyan also did great at showing the change in Xuanji as time goes on, from a naive little girl to a woman of great strength and power. I was also quite amazed at their acting of different characters in ten different lives, they were all so different. Bravo to these two talented actors!

There is a second and third lead couple, and they made the drama more interesting as well, but I felt that the second lead, Linglong and Minyan, played by Zhang Yuxi and Li Junyi did not have much chemistry, and while it's cute that Minyan loves Linglong so much, his “sacrifice” seemed rather stupid to me. But Linglong and Minyan do make a very happy family together. In my opinion, the third lead, Purple Fox and Wu Zhiqi, have an amazing love story that lasted for a thousand years as well, and I cried a river when, well, I'll leave you to find that out.

And the other characters, such as the sect leaders and elders were acted out so well that I was laughing at their uselessness and stupidity. Man, these actors have talent. If you watch any behind the scene clips, you'll know that they're all pretty different or are literally the opposite of their character.

Music: 10-
All of the songs in this drama have such deep meaning lyrics that they could just tell the story with the music. I am Chinese, and listening to these songs honesty made me cry. The OST could easily go on my top five, and the song Thousand Years of Love （千年之恋）by Shuang Sheng is just so beautiful and sorrowful it brought tears to my eyes. The songs all are so special and suit all the different situations in the drama very well, and you could probably understand this love story even if there wasn’t any drama. (Okay, I may have exaggerated, but this music is, just, indescribable with words) There is a song for every occasion that is repeated. For example, Xuanji unleashing her powers always has that exciting music while Wu Zhiqi and Zi Hu always have the music that sounds like a sense of longing.

Rewatch value: 10 -
There are parts that I have rewatched multiple times, and just won't get tired of it. I also have a few episodes that are my favorites, either because they are so cute and sweet or because a misunderstanding was cleared. There are many satisfying parts that I keep watching over and over again. So yes, the rewatch value is high, unlike some dramas that just have cliche plots.

Overall, this drama is just amazing, from just the story itself to the diverse characters. You should definitely give it a shot, and discover the wonderful Xianxia world in the love story of Chu Xuanji and Yu Sifeng!

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MDLers’ Choice Awards 2020 for Best Xianxia Romance, Actor & Action

With over 7K comments in the discussion board (setting a new MDL record at the time of writing), Love and Redemption is quite possibly the winner of MDLers’ Xianxia Romance of the year award for 2020, if ever there was such an honour bestowed by the panel of admins and as voted by MDLers themselves. And of course, our beloved Cheng Yi wins the Best Actor, Most Popular Actor and Best Kisser awards, among others I might have left out.

Why is there so much passion for this show? Because L&R is a binge-worthy narcotic that induces an addiction so severe that one becomes fully dependant and invested from the very first dose. Throughout the 59 episodes, I simply could not refrain myself from “chasing after the story”, just to bear witness to the trials and tribulations experienced by our main leads (Yu Si Feng and Chu Xuan Ji aka SF and XJ) amidst much traumatic physical and mental suffering (and no little amount of blood loss, voluntary or otherwise) in the process, inflicted upon themselves and even on each other. This powerful romance truly deserves multiple awards because it is all inclusive and literally no one is left out.

As with other fans of the show, we persevere through each and every episode with the faintest glimmer of hope, and against the odds of the deeply dreaded historical C-drama curse, just to see a happily ever after ending. When a show gives you butterflies in the stomach and myriad emotions, damn it you know it’s good.

Truth be told, technically it’s not the most perfect production (then again nothing of this mortal world is perfect, except maybe Cheng Yi's acting) – there are minor flaws in directing, editing, and cinematography. But without a shadow of doubt, full marks go to the depiction of the story and portrayal of the characters. The visual effects, CGI technology employed and martial arts choreography are among the finest, if not the best, seen in a Xianxia drama for a very long time.

Story:
I did not read the original novel, “Liu Li Mei Ren Sha” by Shi Si Lang, and simply went in with a clean slate and without any expectation, demand or bias. What I ended up with was a masterpiece of storytelling. To put it simply, at the heart of this drama is a beautiful story about a love so pure and strong that it defies all odds and conquers everything that fate throws at it, just for a chance to shape its own destiny.

As is customary of this genre, we have the usual setting of the 3 realms – the Heavenly court and its entourage of Godly Emperors, Demi-Gods and Immortals; the Mortal Realm with its various sects of cultivators and loyal followers and groupies; and the Underworld realm filled with Demons, Devils and generally every other plausible kind available. Within this universe lies our unassuming SF and XJ, whose love story unfolds across the 3 realms and transcends several lifetimes, in a long and arduous journey filled with seemingly endless challenges and obstacles.

Nearly every conceivable plot element, trope and the emotional highs and lows that one could ever wish for in a fantasy is present in abundance. Full-blown action from fierce battles fought out in epic proportions in the heavens and on earth, between every imaginable species of celestial beings and affiliations, with all manner of divine weapons and cultivated powers. Many action C-dramas pale in comparison to this spectacle.

The romance is simply off the charts and has the steamiest kissing scenes in any C-dramas that I’ve seen this year. Being nearly all-inclusive, you will observe multiple relationship angles involving fabricated/ forced/ infatuation/ manipulated/ unrequited/ tragic love, whether it be romantic, familial, bromance, sismance and even BL among various characters. Normal rules of engagement no longer apply as even gender associations extend to androgyny levels in both corporeal and ethereal formats. Not many romance dramas, regardless of genres, could hold a candle to L&R.

There is no lack of focus on supporting characters as everyone is given ample room to develop and showcase their own storyline. There is enough suffering, tears, torment and blood vomit to last beyond a single lifetime (or in this case 10 cycles). No shortage either in frustrating misunderstandings, heart-breaking betrayals, sheer mental anguish, broken oaths and promises.

Thankfully it’s not all doom and gloom. I didn’t have to look too hard to find some semblance of luminescence within the darkness throughout the proverbial tunnel where memorable but fleeting moments of pure unabashed and unadulterated innocent love between our hero and heroine can be observed. This is fine dining at a Michelin–star establishment rather than buffet at a fast-food joint, but trust me, the long-awaited dessert certainly provides for a much welcomed catharsis at the very end – the last 30 minutes of the finale episode makes everything worth it.

Acting and Cast:
As the ML, this show has potentially propelled Cheng Yi to celestial popularity levels. His portrayal of the much adored character of Yu Si Feng through his seemingly innate ability to emote convincingly and project poignant scenes of excruciating torment while shedding TONNES OF BLOOD AND TEARS has deservedly earned him legions of new fans, including yours truly. Yuan Bing Yan, who plays FL Chu Xuan Ji, displays the necessary depth in portraying the character’s growth, from a sensory-impaired and downright clueless young woman to a multi-faceted divine being of supernatural awesomeness. Perhaps at times Cheng Yi’s superior range and mastery of acting became too overpowering, but there is no denying the explosive chemistry between these two leads. The intense emotional connection that they share does indeed feel tangible and real rather than artificial and contrived.

There are several villains who dish out multiple levels of annoyance and angst. None more so than the top two of Hao Chen and Wu Tong. Without Liu Xue Yi, L&R would not be as satisfying (and torturous) as it had been. He brings to the table his version of Hao Chen, a complex and egocentric multi-dimensional piece of work who’s armed with a deep-seated sense of self-serving twisted logic that is borne of extreme bitterness and utter resentment. I doubt HC himself even realises that he is an actual villain because in his mind, he believes himself to be the righteous and spiritual holier-than-thou sacred existence while everyone else who does not share his convictions is almost certainly in league with the Devil himself. This is where the actor succeeds in his ability to consistently maintain the angst levels and turning it up a notch or two when the situation calls for it, throughout the entire show.

Huang You Ming plays the other villain, Wu Tong. It would be unfair to vilify WT as an outright villain because in a way he is a victim of circumstances that turned him into a sociopath. Constantly filled with contempt and uncontrollable rage, coupled with insatiable bloodlust for revenge, this is a deeply troubled individual who has no control over his own fetishes either. The actor’s looks, sadly for him but fortunately for us, projects the character’s vile vibes completely.

I want to add that the voice dubbers for Yu Si Feng and Hao Chen in particular, did an absolutely amazing job in adding the emotional nuance that brings to life the actors’ portrayals ever so vividly to the viewers.

The rest of the cast generally did pretty well too. Zhang Yu Si playing Chu Ling Long displayed a remarkable transformation from the spoilt princess persona to the role of an abuse victim struggling with PTSD. Together with Li Jun Yi, who plays Zhong Ming Yan, they both formed the second main couple in the show (among many other couples) and gave the OTP a run for their money in the pain and suffering stakes.

Did I mention this drama is filled with many charismatic and good looking male actors? In addition to Cheng Yi and Liu Xue Yi, we have Zhu Zi Xiao (Yuan Lang), Fu Fang Jun (Wu Zhi Qi), Li Xin Ze (Luo Hou Ji Du), Bai Shu (Ting She) and Zhou Jun Wei (Ruo Yu).

Overall:
Love and Redemption is definitely not light and fluffy (except for very few episodes). Make no mistake, this is as heavy and serious as it gets, and the drama is extremely adept at reducing viewers into emotional train wrecks. Mercifully, it did not take too long for viewers to get an overhaul. At least we got what we deserved – a truly happily ever after ending. I had thoroughly enjoyed this dramatic journey and I think you would too.

Thanks for reading :)

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Creeped Up To the Top of My All Time Favorites

59 episodes was not enough. I usually shy away from long dramas since I have a full time job and two kids to take care of at home! But somehow I gave this drama a chance, and just couldn't stop watching it! I never thought any drama could top Eternal Love / Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms for me. Love and Redemption did just that. There is a purity to Si Feng's love that is just so captivating. Both ML and FL's acting were very impressive, very natural and they just fit so well with each other. I didn't find Si Feng handsome nor Xuan Ji pretty in the beginning, but after 1 episode, Si Feng became super handsome and Xuanji, super adorable. The actress was able to pull off so well the young naive girl (not in an annoying way, but very believable and sweet way), and in order to protect Si Feng and loved ones, she could pull off the super protective and powerful fighter persona really well too. Cheng Yi's acting was truly the best in the drama - he IS Si Feng. Their acting and chemistry together is unbeatable. I like that even though Xuan Ji didn't have her 6 senses, her actions still showed that deep in her heart, there was love for Si Feng already. There were a few parts that I got frustrated at her (but her actions and words are very understandable, so please don't misunderstand or give up on her), but for the most part, she was a very lovable character that I was rooting for all the way! She is one lucky girl to have Si Feng's love and heart 100%. I believe love should be 100%. Not 99%, not 70%. I don't like love triangles for that reason. I don't think the love is pure enough if the ML or FL is able to sort of fall for another person, even if it's for a short period or slightly. Si Feng is 100% faithful! He set the bar so high that I can't imagine another ML touching my heart the same way! He is also 100% loyal to his people and his friends. This drama is soo satisfying regarding romantic scenes. There is a super passionate kiss in ep 52, and lovely hand holding, hugs, sweet gazes throughout to satisfy the hopeless romantic. I don't want to give away any of the story, but I have to say, the 59 episodes are 100% worth it.

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Volcano meets a Tornado !

Oh boy I have a lot to say about this drama, and I invested my time worth of 59 episodes to watch this so I really do have A LOT to say on this.
First and foremost, the basic story is nice. Actually it is really good. Although I was tad creeped out by Xianji suddenly turning to a man and I was swept into a world of BL (which I totally like, only creeped out because I was not expecting it), the drama have a strong backstory. One could almost feel the pain the FL character went through in her past, (mainly because the star of mosha done a better job in acting than the god of war). And although I did feel sympathy for Si Feng, in the later episodes, the more he felt pain the more I found myself rolling my eyes, honestly is there any episode where he did not fell pain or was acting like a fool in love sacrificing himself, or comically jumping in front of the blade?

Summarized review (SPOILERS)

i) Slow and gradual process of love story. We can relate to the love story and it feels quite natural (as compared to Ashes of Love where everything seemed forced). However I personally find myself more moved by the 'sacrificing' part, probably because the ML sacrificed himself way too much that it lost the gravity, or perhaps the deliverance way not upto the mark. (or maybe I am still caught in the aftermath of Ashes of Love)

ii) The secondary characters were interesting in a way, and perhaps not so interesting in another. Honestly I did not care too much about Linglongs storyline, and her trauma really did not make any sense to me. I mean, it was the flower demon who did all that, and sure they are sharing same memories and all but why was she so affected by it? I found it rather bother than being sympathetic to be honest. Same goes for the Lize palace lords love story which rather feel stretched to be honest. But I think it might have contributed to the storyline and perhaps it was necessary but I found myself bored to the core. Now the storyline I found more interesting was of the fox and monkey, the fluff was just amazing. That reminded me, I really do not like silver snake and her death did not move me to tears sorry.

iii) The villains were... confusing. The deputy palace lord who never seems to die, dijun, who disappeared easily without any sort of punishment for all the things he done, and wu tong, for a mere mortal, dang, he did made the mighty demons run for their lives.

iv) The righteous sec leaders were just a no-no. They were harshly accusing someone with no evidence. Also arent they supposed to be kinda strong? But honestly the sec leaders felt really weak.

v) The final arch of the flask or torch or whatever that thing was tipping over to destroy the world??? Dear lord where did that come from???

Xuanji - At first she seems so childish, to an annoying level. Sure, its her naivety, so it can be pardoned. Her character development was steady, and it was sort of nice to see. However, the might of god of war was not that satisfying, in a way it made no sense? Sure she is the god of war but even the immortals cant stop her? Even when she is just a mortal? Now why is that just weird? Even with the misunderstandings, she stayed (or tried to) stay loyal to Si Feng, now that was satisfying (I am looking at you, Ashes of Love). Although she tried her best to portray the emotions, I rather felt it was fake when she did most of the time.

Sifeng - Apart from him spitting out blood all the time, and jumping in front of the blades to protect xuanji (probably because that god awful god of war armour was as useless as it seems), and sacrificing himself for love which he seems to be doing from the very beginning to the end, I really cannot understand his character. To say honestly, he really seems to lack a character outside the 'lost in love' thing. I was waiting for him to flutter his wings and show everyone that he was the son of the heavenly emperor and make everyone fall to their knees, but it never really came. It was like I waited all for nothing. Till the very end, his only character was to sacrifice and dot on Xuanji in a very toxic relationship which everything seems one sided if we look at it this way (but lucky for us its not because we know she was loyal to him) But I must say, him as the lord of Lize palace had me drooling. I mean im always drooling over him whenever he is not there spitting blood (which is like 90% of the time)

Linglong - Idk she annoys me.

Sixth senior - There was nothing much to say about him, although I found him and linglon lack chemistry and perhaps that was why the whole storyline felt dull.

I am lazy to go on about other characters.

It was a nice drama, although the story felt lacking in the later episodes, I dont regret watching it. The costumes were amazing, so was the setting. The CG was worthy to be praised. The supporting casts were amazing with their work. The OST was not that great, I expected something more. (lets blame Ashes of Love again). And the fluff was just heart eyes. but would I go back and watch it all over again? No.

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Made me want to vomit blood

Watching all 59 eps made me feel like I was going through my own tribulation. Honestly, the amount of times people spit out blood in this drama is enough to paint a highway. But that’s not the point. Due to the overwhelming positive reactions to this drama I was excited to watch it. The first few episodes were interesting and the backstory of the God of War was my high point. I was interested to learn more but none of that gets revealed until nearly the end. What I got for the remainder of these 40ish eps was a weak ML who got stabbed more than a pincushion, a stupid annoying FL who is controlled by the worst villain to ever exist, hypocritical “righteous” sects who made me feel homicidal to the point that I ended up rooting for the demons, contrived misunderstandings just to drag out unnecessary plot points and so so so so SO MUCH TALKING! Good lord!

I was not a fan of the leads going in and while they probably did the best they could I feel the FL is miscast. She does not pull off the duality of Xuanji/God of War well. I kinda laughed at how big her hair piece was and the armor was terrible. The ML was also kind of one note due to the character being selfless to a fault. Watching him getting stabbed, poisoned, tortured over and over again got so boring after the millionth time. It made the character feel pathetic and weak and it felt like the only reason he kept living was the thick slab of plot armor they padded him with.

The story went off the rails once the Star of Mosha returned and things turned weird and made me wonder if this was a BL drama all of a sudden. But to be frank, the actor who played Luohuo Judu pulled off his duality better than the FL anyway. When he’s menacing, he’s terrifying but when he goes soft it’s so believable.

I appreciate that the drama focused so heavily on the FL’s backstory and the ML served more of a secondary role to her journey. It’s kind of a nice role reversal but the writing and characterization was just too elementary and sub-par. While there’s a lot of depth to the villains, the main heroes felt so one dimensional. For 90% of the story FL has no agency whatsoever and is manipulated by nearly everyone around her. The only time she takes control is when she turns into the Star of Mosha who just so happens to be a man. Kind of a bad subtext there. The other female characters in the drama revolve entirely around men as well and have no agency of their own. I began to fast forward a lot towards the end. This could have easily been cut short into a 30 ep drama and saved me a lot of time.

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This show is WAY overhyped

I had a lot of high exceptions for this show, especially since everyone was calling it the new "Ashes of Love", a drama I that LOVED. This is not even close. I blame it on the characters development.

The writers and directors did the female lead so bad, She's like Jin Mi from "Ashes of Love" but ramp up the naiveness and obliviousness 10x. It was so frustrating to watch and I only made it through the whole show because I felt so so bad for the male lead. This has nothing to do with the actors and actresses acting, but rather the characters themselves. The women in this show are so disappointing because their characters are literally the weakest link. I was really hoping for a stronger female character, but instead they fluctuated between nativeness/cutesy and cold/heartless. It was so hard to like the characters. I believe you can create a native character who still have some common sense and brain cells to understand certain situations. I don't understand why the writers did the female characters so bad. This show would be so much better if the characters were developed better.

The plot line was very good, it honestly was the only thing holding this show together. The side characters are great, and their storyline was honestly more entertaining to watch. I got so much second hand embarrassment from the female lead that I often skipped through her parts.

Overall, I would not rewatch this show. The ending felt like fanfiction and is like putting a bandage on a battle wound and calling it a day. Just watch Ashes of Love lmao, I think their characters and storyline are better and certainly more entertaining to watch than this drama.

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Only a genuine love will lasts for a lifetime

I had anticipated Love and Redemptions official airing since the moment I stumbled upon its trailer, although to be honest during those times I was a bit hesitant because I was unfamiliar with the actors and actress (Cheng Yi and Crystal Yuan). This is the very first time I watched their work and my expectations didn't disappoint, instead they set the bar so high for me (I'm a hardcore ashes of love fan).

From the very beginning until the end of love and redemption, there are no words that could best describe the love that both Xi Feng and Xuan Ji had shared. It is so beautiful and moving, I have watched a lot of romantic dramas/movies before but this is the first time I witnessed this kind of love that is close to perfection and knows no boundaries so it left a deep impression on me. The male leads love aka Si Feng's love for Xuan Ji is so genuine and brave to the point he became too selfless that he would go through so much length in order to protect Xuan Ji, even if the price he has to pay is with his own life. He was the one who had no prejudice over the good and the evil, he believed in goodness no matter what form or difference and when it comes to Xuan Ji, he is the first until the end to believe in her, even after knowing her heart was made of glass. He filled it up and never gave up. There is no other character that can compare to Si Feng, he has it all, a complete angel. As for Xuan Ji, for once I had never hated or got annoyed with her character because I saw how much she had suffered and had been manipulated and it was understandable how slow she was since she used to be as clean as a blank paper, but her character progressed a lot when she finally learnt what love is and her love for Si Feng is so pure and colorful.

The storyline of Love and Redemption has depicted so much emotions in a span of 59 episodes. It is so fresh and there were a lot of memorable and meaningful scenes. Cheng Yi has now become one of my fave actors same for Crystal Yuan. Cheng Yi's portrayal of Si Feng went beyond and sometimes it felts as if he were a real person. He displayed so much emotions in every scenes, including the scenes were he vomited countless of blood. Would love to commend him for that. On a side note, he is very handsome as well... I couldn't stop staring at him all throughout and there were scenes I repeated countless of times just to appreciate his visuals even more. Crystal Yuan on the other hand gave so much life to Xuan Ji, she perfectly displayed her innocence and when it came to her GOD OF WAR scenes, I can't help but be amaze at how badass she looked. She is a very impressive actress, and I am so proud of her because her character wasn't easy to play. For the side characters, Teng She, Zi Hu, Brother Liu, Wu Zhi Qi and Ting Nu are my top faves because they weren't like the rests who turned their backs easily on others, they stayed by Xi Feng and Xuan Ji's side no matter what. Lastly, the villains I hated the most was Hao chen, though I would commend the actor who gave life to him because he did well too.

Now that love and redemption has ended, I am hoping that SEASON 2 would happen with the same casts, I can't imagine it without Cheng Yi and Crystal Yuan. I need those two in another project together. Overall, this is the first drama I gave an almost perfect score to, and is now the top 1 xianxia drama for me. It will be so hard to find a drama as good as this.

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An Unexpected and Unforgettable Experience with Xianxia Drama

Rather than a review, this is more of telling an experience. There I was, one night, trying to kill time watching some random shows on Netflix when this series popped up in the recommendations. "Ah~ A xianxia drama", I thought. I NEVER succeed in watching one xianxia drama, not even the infamous Eternal Love & Ashes of Love. I'm more inclined towards realistic period dramas without a shred of fantasy eg. Princess Weiyoung and Yanxi Palace. So, with absolutely no expectation at all, I watched it thinking I'd never make it till the end of the first episode. The lore in the prologue just flies over my head.

Oh, how wrong I was. The CGI is awesome and not cringy at all. CGI in xianxia dramas has always been the element that made me not giving xianxia dramas a chance. I know a lot of xianxia dramas have good storylines despite bad or borderline good CGI, but I rather not watching those dramas if I can't find myself enjoying them. Another thing that amazed me is the actors' and actresses' gestures, postures, hand and body movements look so natural in scenes such as conjuring spells, flying and fighting which required layer of CGI. The actors' smooth action scenes, topped with good CGI, ended up look so natural and satisfying. Though, truth be told, it's maybe because I'm not exposed to other xianxia/wuxia dramas.

The cliff hanger by the end of the first episode is enough to make me hooked. Other than the prologue at the beginning, the drama focuses its first few episodes on the introductions of the characters, especially the main leads, Xuanji and Sifeng, and this is where I applaud the drama for making me invested. Keeping the lore on minimum, and focuses on the characters establishment first. Convoluted lore is another xianxia element that tires the hell out of me. I want to know the characters and watch their interactions first rather than digesting a lot of information but not enjoying the characters interactions.

Getting over these two main obstacles, watching this drama is such a smooth-sailing experience for me. I'm a hardcore masochist when it comes to a tragic love story, and this drama totally delivers the angst I'm looking for. Misunderstandings, heartbreaks, deception and tragedy are a common staple for this genre. Many would state that they are sick of it, but for most viewers, me included, these tropes are drugs that made them addicted and cannot take their eyes off the story. To each his own.

Each character in this story has their own arcs, and they serve their own interests and move towards their own missions and ambitions. I liken the story arcs like the main quest and side quests in a game. All of them are laid perfectly throughout the drama. The closure this drama gives towards all characters is also a major satisfying point to me. Revelations are laid at a timing when it perfectly coincides with suspicions. Plot twists are done so well, it's been so long since I was so moved and shocked with plot twists occurring in a drama.

Now, how could I leave the fundamental core of this story? The romance between Xuanji and Sifeng is definitely one that I could never forget among a lot of main pairings in other dramas. Many argue that Sifeng sacrifice a lot more compared to Xuanji, and it definitely true to some extent. But Xuanji's growth from a naïve and childish character, to a person who knows how to love despite still being gullible, to recognize good and evil despite their backgrounds is something worthy of respect. Despite few mistakes, Xuanji can never be who she is at the end of the story without Sifeng from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoy watching their sweet moments and it certainly made those frustrating times worth it.

Of course, each drama has its own downside and this one cannot escape from that. There is one misunderstanding that went too long for my liking and I can't take some scenes in episode 50++ seriously no matter how much I watch. The OST placement at the beginning of the drama is awkward and I just can't help but laugh. Alas, the enjoyment I got from this drama outnumbers the dissatisfaction.

As someone who got into this drama blindly, I'd never expect myself to be this invested. Still cannot move on from this drama, I kept searching for BTS videos, listening to OSTs and watching FMVs.

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This show! It has taken over me!

Love and Redemption snuck up on me and now I can't function.
I don't want to make this a post about comparing and sh*tting on another show but I'm gonna say this for people who like me tried to watch/watched Ashes of Love and didn't like it and now they are not sure if they should check this out because the two shows seem similar: This is like Ashes of Love if Ashes of Love was actually good! I’ll say give it a chance!
Okay, trash-talk over, moving on to positive review!

I'm going to give a tiny summary because the description here is bad.
A thousand years ago, there was a war between the heavenly realm and the demon realm. The demons were winning thanks to a very powerful general called Star of Mosha. Then this God of war showed up, annihilated Star of Mosha, and the heavenly realm won the war. But because Mosha was very powerful, they couldn't fully kill him and a part of his soul was put in a jar and was hidden in one of the sects on earth. A thousand years have passed and it seems that stars are (literally) aligning for Mosha’s return.
Now, the story really starts when during a cultivation tournament, the younger daughter of the Shaoyang sect leader, Xuan Ji, meets the star disciple of Lize palace, Si Feng, and they become friends. Xuan Ji doesn’t have the six senses (She is color-blind, can’t differentiate sounds, smells, and tastes, has no sense of pain or touch, and doesn’t process emotions.) Si Feng, Xuan Ji, her sister Ling Long and senior disciple Min Yan form the most adorable quartet of friends and decide to help Xuan Ji regain her sense by finding this magical mirror. They end up uncovering some serious demonic activities regarding Star of Mosha and what happened a thousand years ago…

This show has every trope and concept that my romantic heart could possibly crave:
1)star-crossed lovers
2)Falsified history
3)Hot men with wings
4)Ride or die group of misfit friends
5)The rejects are the good people and they get together and are cute and adorable and heroic
6)Some serious subversion of romantic dynamics and gender-norms
7)Happyily-ever-after
8)Complex female characters
9)Did I mention FRIENDHSIPS TO DIE FOR?
10)No instalove. It’s a S L O W B U R N!
11)Mythology, fantastical creatures and figures
12)Love that lasts lifetimes…10 of ‘em!
13)No love-triangles, ridiculous cheatings, or other boring shenanigans that make hetero-romances garbage…
14) Subplots that are actually interesting and engaging
15)Perfect foreshadowing work…PERFECT
16) HOT MEN SUFFERING WHILE LOOKING PRETTY

I did not expect to love this show as much as I did. However, I loved the story. I loved the execution and everything in between.
One of the strong points of this show was its plot and story. Unlike a lot of other shows which just drag out the plot with melodrama, love-triangles and etc. this show is actually dragged out by action-packed plot and complex narratives. There is a lot happening in every episode and even if sometimes it becomes overwhelming, it’s definitely still moving the plot somewhere. Even episodes that slow down to develop romances and such are very well-paced and seem justified. I could maybe shorten it for 3 episodes but eh, it’s fine. A problem that I have with some cdramas is their boring B plots that I just want to fast-forward through but L&R manages to have such an endearing supporting cast of characters that I was genuinely invested in all of the side-romances and their plots. There are some mind-blowing plot twists in the show that you realize were all foreshadowed. They leave a mix of spot-on clues in addition to fake clues to both give you information and confuse you and then they deliver for every.single.one. fake or real clues. *mind: blown* Overall, I would say the plot develops and moves in an incredibly satisfying way. Something I really love is that despite an obscene number of misunderstandings in the show, at crucial moments there is always one character screaming at everyone else for being idiots and misunderstanding the situation. The show ends up also being very feminist with some very positive messages about women and identity, trauma, agency, and autonomy over one’s body which I consider an inherently feminine issue but also one with [SPOILER] [SPOILER] tones and the story has BOTH…you’ll get it when you watch the whole thing!

The casting in this show was just perfect. The main leads did an amazing job. Crystal Yuan was wonderful as Xuan Ji. She actually made me endeared towards a character who if done badly would have been very frustrating. She actually has nuance in her performance because slowly as Xuan Ji gains her senses and catches feelings, you can see the little changes in her behavior and it’s the most satisfying thing ever. Cheng Yi also knocked it out of the park! That man carried this show on his shoulders. Definitely the emotional anchor of the show was Cheng Yi’s portrayal of Si Feng and the many, many, MANY tribulations he goes through! Lol, I can’t recall the last time I watched a male character suffer so terribly on screen. But the perfect acting doesn’t end there. Liu Xue Yi plays his character so well… a little too well at times. I am obsessed with every acting choice that Bai Shu made for his portrayal of Teng she. Hou Meng Yao made me tear-up TWICE. Fu Fang Jun might just be the most charismatic man on earth and Li Xin Ze had no right breaking my heart like that.

The music, I didn’t love. It wasn’t bad. I just…I think I’m just not the right person to give an opinion on music. Sorry

The production of this show was also better than most you’ll see in Xianxia shows. The CGI was very good. The sets were quite lovely. We have three realms, five sects, and at least four random towns the characters visit and each had distinct styles and aesthetics. There were some grey wash “bare meadows of misery” where action sequences occurred but I guess that’s just how life is; sometimes the background is grey! I especially loved the design for Lize Palace for SPOILER reasons. It was a very nice little clue left for the viewers who were paying attention to details.

The costumes: I wasn’t crazy for the girl’s costumes and hairstyles but I guess most of the budget went into providing Si Feng with his majestic wardrobe and I respect that decision.

The negative: There are a lot of misunderstandings. I know at some point a lot of viewers hated Xuan Ji and were blaming her. I personally didn’t and there were certain things going my way even during the darkest episodes of the show which made me really excited to keep watching so I was satisfied. However, the misunderstandings can absolutely be a turn-off for some viewers. The show is also tropey as hell while subverting some other tropes. I love my xianxia tropes and I haven’t watched so many that I’ll be annoyed by the repetitions yet. I actually enjoyed recognizing certain tropes and calling them out. There are also some “convenient” McGuffins in the story if you are going to be nitpicky about it.
But I believe, once you start enjoying a show, and you are so invested in the characters, and the story keeps delivering in a satisfying way, the occasional plot hole, bad lighting or framing, and whatever else won’t really matter anymore. It’s only when you are not enjoying yourself that you will get hung up on the technical aspects of the production.
Somewhere between episode 2 and 3, I started to love this show and I just loved it all the way, and those minor issues didn’t matter at all.

Love and Redemption is also one of those shows that require a rewatch because there are so many things that will be revealed that actually affect the way you perceive the whole story. These will come through in a second watch once you already know all the plot twists and outcomes and will look out for those foreshadows.

I will recommend this to anyone who likes the things I listed above. It’s definitely the best Xianxia show I have watched so far and I will probably not be over it for a while.

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Anything and everything you expect in a love story and some more

OK, so I never write a review about any drama I have seen so far but L&R turns out to be the exception in many of my never to-do list.
first of all, GREAT CHOICE of actor and actress, Cheng Yi and Crystal Yuan were the best possible match for their characters, they essentially brought the characters to life and I will forever remember Yu Sifeng and Xuanji, especially my darling Sifeng!!! seriously I fell in love with him from the first second of his appearance in the drama till the last second of the end and it had nothing to do with the fact that I already love Cheng Yi since we all know even if an actor is brilliant, it doesn't necessarily mean that the character he will play would be liked or not, but I LOVED Sifeng as much as I loved Cheng Yi and found myself smile and cry with him the entire time of the drama. He took the selfless lover to another level and I have never seen anyone else sacrifices anything and I MEAN anything and everything for his love every time and in every lifetime! he took the meaning of love to another level and I loved that he showed strong ML doesn't mean he isn't vulnerable or doesn't need protection! Sifeng and Xuanji completed each other in a way that you couldn't possibly see one without the void of the other.

This series checked all the main points necessary to be the perfect drama with xianxia/wuxia concept:

-great acting of ML & FL
-strong female lead (without the often stupid/dumb trait in female leads of other similar dramas)
-strong male lead that actually has vulnerabilities and feelings(no cold unfeeling bastard exist here)
-protective FL (it is a fact that in most dramas ML has a protective trait, but you can't see this trait often in FLs)
the FL was capable and protective whenever it concerned the ML in any situation, and I truly enjoyed that in drama.
-actually selfless and caring ML (without the often arrogance and overbearing types in AGAIN similar dramas)
-actual storyline and without getting messy and out of order in the second half of the drama
-unexpected plot (even till the last second I couldn't guess the ending, and I love to NOT KNOW what to expect)
- exceptionally perfect CGI! I enjoyed it a lot
-perfectly related music (some scenes in the drama I had to rewatch just because of the songs!)
- No unnecessary plot hole or loose ends
-out of chart chemistry between the main couple!! you could feel the love between them even when one of the main leads wasn't even aware of it!
-the BL concept was gold!!! they conveyed it perfectly between Teng She & Qing Long, Bailin & Luo Hou Ji Du, and even the sort time of Luo Hou Ji Du & Sifeng (although it was not BL but way more complex but anyhow it was short but perfect)
- SPOILER--------- HAPPY ENDING ---------
what I hate the most is that the main couple goes through 10 levels of hell and in the end one of them or both, have the fate of death or maybe worst!!!
fortunately, even though my heart bleeds for Sifeng the entire time - I mean ... you literally die because of/by the hands of the one you love for 9 times(?????) and still choose to love her selflessly and without blaming her even for a second for all the torture and pain you went through??? excuse me, are you sure you are not a Saint??? - still every character got what they deserved.

AS for weak points(not really weak more likely sad point):

-the easy manipulation on FL's side (although if I really put myself in her place, every time she tries to understand Sifeng or take his side, he would always do something unexpected to give the opportunity to others to easily manipulate her)
- miscommunication or better said no communication at all on ML's side (I mean Sifeng already knows that she lacks the 6 senses and therefore easily swayed by the words of the people she trusts and even when she gains them, she still doesn't understand all of the feelings half of the time, yet he still won't explain things better to her! he could have given a better explain or tell her his intentions instead of putting both of them through hell)
- Linglong's character should be a complex and traumatized character that makes you sympathize with her pain but instead, I was annoyed by her most of the time, the actress couldn't pull off the truly traumatized feeling well.
- the said 'righteous sect' was anything but righteous! the Irony!!! I liked the demon clan more! at least they didn't hide their evil deeds.
-If only Crystal could cry as her voice dubbed was like crying but I couldn't see a single tear in her eyes... anyhow she conveyed all the other feelings pretty well so I could look away for her lack of skill in crying.
-wish Si Feng spit out less blood
-Xiao Yin Hua was unnecessary and annoying, better keep her as snake, like in novel

but still although there were weak points (which drama is completely perfect?) I rewatched the drama for 5 times (yes, It is true) and still have to force myself to not watch it again because nothing can replace it for me and it is my first c-drama ever that I rated 10 because it had everything I wanted and needed in a drama and I love Cheng Yi, Yu Sifeng, Xuanji, Crystal and all the other characters to bring such an amazing drama to life

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10 lifetimes and a love to transcend destiny.

In the hundreds of dramas I have gone through, I have to say, this one buried itself into my heart the most.

Cheng Yi’s breathtaking performance as Si Feng captures a heart-wrenching journey of self sacrifice, altruistic compassion and infinite love. His performance as Si Feng perfectly shows the character’s personality, the tribulations he faces, how much he is willing to sacrifice, and most importantly, the lengths he is willing to go to, to protect the one he loves. Whether in this lifetime, or the 9 lifetimes he has spent loving her before. Cheng Yi will have you crying rivers of tears. The character he portrays is so heart wrenching, when Si Feng hurts, your heart will feel the pain to the very depths of your soul. I also have to add, Ive never seen an actor who could cry that painfully. As soon as he cries, I’m crying too. It’s actually amazing. Another thing, prepare yourself little hearts because he spits so much blood and it happens in almost every episode.

Bing Yan as Xuan Ji, brings to vivid life, the cheerful yet clueless character she is. Bound by a fate she cannot control, but determined to challenge nonetheless, for a love she belated realises. Although I felt that in the later episodes where things come to light, she lacked the emotional depth of portraying the kind of soul rending pain, such revelations would bring. I’m not saying she didn’t have a great performance, just that those scenes should have been acted out with more emotion then she gave.

Now, Cheng Yi and Bing Yan, Xuanji and Si Feng, have a chemistry that is the stuff of romantic dreams. I would purely watch this again and again just for the love between these two.

The pacing of the story was perfect as to allow the audience enough time to enjoy this intricate journey alongside all the characters. The OST touching captures, and adds an element of wistfulness, to the essence of every scene. Zhou Shen and Yisa Yu never disappoint when it comes to osts. Costume design and set were stunning. Absolutely loved the costumes between Si Feng and Xuan Ji. The supporting cast were great and really played their part well. Teng She is a definite favourite of mine!

All in all, the journey undergone by the characters, from youth to adulthood. From innocence to responsibility. From a glass heart to an all encompassing love. Love and Redemption is a drama you do not want to miss. Especially for the beautiful tale of love and sacrifice between Xuan Ji and Si Feng. It makes you wonder how far a persons love can truely go.

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How to suffer successfully.

This is a truly epic fantasy xianxia romance spanning three realms that is heavily imbued with characters, cosmic rules and hierarchies, black and white magic and other elements from Chinese mythology and legend. Even though many of the themes are familiar, they are brilliantly woven into a riveting and memorable fantasy fairy-tale of how all beings - deities, demons and humans are capable of good and evil; no one is immune from love and hate and all the emotions in between. We are all different and yet still the same.

After an devastating war, both the demon lord and god of war disappear and peace returns to the realms. A thousand years later, Chu Xuanji is born into the Chaoyang Sect; one of the righteous cultivating sects. At an elite martial arts tournament, she meets Yu Sifeng, the rising star and heir apparent of the mysterious Lize Palace. A strong bond of friendship is formed between the younger generation that leads them on many adventures as they pledge to help Xuanji recover shards of a magical artifact that can restore her six senses. In doing so, they set in motion a chain of events that can lead to the return of both the god of war and the demon lord and once again bring chaos to the realms. They also uncover secrets of their past incarnations and conspiracies that follow them to the present.

Where this xianxia stands out from the other huge xianxia hits of past years is that there is a very well written external plot that is not just there to facilitate the love story. Both the internal and external plot are very well woven together and are mostly evenly paced so that both plot lines converge into a very satisfying and climatic ending. In fact, the external plot is much more intriguing and balanced than the love story so I urge you to resist spoilers and just enjoy the gradual reveal of the backstory and the way it impacts many of the main characters. Although this director still cannot seem to restrain his excessive love of angst, at least in this drama the internal plot did not manage to destroy the external plot as it did in Under the Power. Indeed I personally enjoyed the external plot and colorful surrounding characters much more than the love story notwithstanding the sparkle between the leads.

As for the love story, well it has all the hallmarks of a xianxia hit - it is an extreme and obsessive love story that transcends many lifetimes and thousands of years and is undaunted in the face of challenges by more powerful beings from the three realms. Phew! Exhausting! The chemistry between the OTP is undeniably both sizzling and moving. It does not hurt at all that both actors smooch with an enthusiasm rarely seen in these kinds of shows. But the way the relationship is written is too unbalanced with Sifeng taking way too many hits for Xuanji. Most of the angst takes place in episodes ~40s+ which is late in the game and after the couple already goes through many experiences that should cement their mutual trust. So for Xuanji to be so easily swayed and manipulated makes her character regress and seem just not smart (as opposed to heartless). To deal with her so shabbily just so that Sifeng (who had already gone through so much), can spit blood a few more times is unnecessary and excessive. Within the most angsty arc, the drama indulges in flashbacks and digresses into boring one dimensional characters (e.g. Yanran) with little plot advancement. Everything comes together again in the final 6 episodes that culminates in one of the most engaging and strongest finishes I have seen in a long time. It would have been much better had they explored some of the threads in the last 6 episodes earlier and in greater depth.

As the backstory is revealed, it is evident that Xuanji is an old soul that experienced a lot of trauma that still echoes from her past incarnations and restrains her emotional development. This doesn't really come out until the end because while the main cast is really quite exceptional, Yuan Bingyan is the weak link. She did an amazing job as the young and artless Xuanji and as Xuanji in love with Sifeng but was not able to mature the character or convey some of the rage, torment from her past incarnations that haunts her character nor can she fully convey the inner conflict Xuanji experiences when forced into heart wrenching choices. This becomes most apparent at the end when stacked up against the more nuanced and compelling portrayals by Cheng Yi, Li Xinze and of course Liu Xueyi as the drama draws to an emotionally epic climax at the end.

I know Cheng Yi is by far the fan favorite and is in a completely different league in terms of his acting skills and his unforgettable portrayal of Sifeng's indomitable love and the unthinkable suffering he goes through for Xuanji. This character and this actor is a true example of how to suffer successfully, spitting blood so painfully beautifully time after time that it never fails to fan the flames of rabid fandom to new heights. While he is a truly amazing actor, I think it is actually Liu Xueyi's Haochen that is the anchor of the entire production. I know this is an unpopular and uncommon view but the truth is this drama begins and ends with this character. He must be one of the most manipulative, duplicitous, hypocritical and universally hated villains out there that I still can't help feeling pity for. Liu Xueyi's acting is truly phenomenal from his portrayal of an arrogant high deity who can't even see that he has fallen in love to his conscious acknowledgement that he has strayed from the right path but keeps on going nonetheless. The complexity of his emotions, the suppressed fury when he is thwarted and the inner conflicts he experiences is effortlessly and subtly conveyed with the twitch of a facial muscle, a flicker of an eyelid or a tiny tightening of the lips. In his own way, he suffers as much as Sifeng but obviously not as successfully - probably because he swallows and bottles up all that venom and suffering instead of spitting it right out like our Sifeng. I will leave you with one final thought - love him or hate him, we must thank Haochen. Because if he did the right thing to begin with, there would be no love story.

While for me this falls short of a masterpiece, there is so much more to it than a smoking hot love story and it is so rare to get such a good villain that is complemented by such an outstanding cast. The production value is very high and they did a fabulous job with the CGI. When I finished watching it, I felt like it was a 9.0 but unfortunately a year later, I was never even tempted to re-watch any part of it so I downgraded this to an 8.5/10.0.

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