Who Rules the World

且试天下 ‧ Drama ‧ 2022
Completed
fluffy
0 people found this review helpful
Feb 11, 2024
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

wuxia game of thrones with a timeless love story

I will never stop saying good things about this. Everything about it was just perfect.

The drama started off more martial arts centered with a side of politics then became more and more about politics. I’m not complaining, of course, because I it was a masterpiece. Everything about it was just so well done: the romance, the politics, the people.

Their love story was to die for. At the beginning, it was already clear he had feelings for her. It was an enviable romance. Each party was self sufficient in their own way, and they were perfect for each other. He chose her over the world because she is his world. I know that doesn’t make sense, but it does I promise.

Zhao Lusi was amazing as always. There’s never been a drama where she fails my expectations, Her character was so well-written. She is truly a girl boss. The only thing that bothered me was when her voice cracks when she’s yelling… it’s only a bit, but it was noticeable. Nonetheless, I love ms girl because she is a power move.

Yang Yang was surprising. This was my first drama with him, and let me just say, he has looks. Not everyone can pull off that top bun but he did it. His character was arguably one of the most complex ones. He’s methodical, cunning, and witty, but he’s also caring and loving. He is one of my all time favs because he chose the girl over his ambitions,

The purple dude was my favorite “side” character hands down. There’s just something so charismatic about him that you just got to love him. I started getting a little wary when they were fighting, but in the end, he proved himself just and charming as always. When our ML started wearing purple, I was thrown so off guard because like it’s Huang Chao’s signature okay.

All the other characters were amazing. They 100% killed off so many just like in game of thrones. Our fl was really going through it.

Obviously, the CGI was amazing. This is one of the best productions I’ve ever seen, next to Love like the galaxy. I really want to know how much it cost….


** major major ending spoilers **

Okay , so I was wary of the time skips at first, but then I realised it made perfect sense for the story. Wars take a long time, and it’s not gonna end in just a couple months.

Also, I KNOW that wasn’t the ending. I’m going to pretend that as they’re spending the rest of their days together, they somehow found a way for them both to live to an old age and die together.

I hate Langhua. Like, I actually hate her. When her father went missing, she was so fast to get mad at FL and throw blame at her. Then, she ducking stabbed her. She fully believed FL would kill master Bai without any convincing evidence. Ms girl is immature and I wish she died…. Idc if she came around because she will always be ready to blame FL if anything happens. She quite literally killed her. Ain’t no way I’m forgiving anyone for that.

If she hadn’t stabbed her, there would still be flowers left. Then, ML wouldn’t have to give up his life to save FL because he could’ve used the flowers. Hate that bitch.

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Completed
Tova
0 people found this review helpful
May 17, 2022
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

Visually stunning but pacing is off

This is my first time watching a c drama as it's currently airing. And I can easily say that it has reignated my love for c dramas, and has made me want to watch more. Especially ones in this particular genre.

To start with the good we have Zhao Lu Si's incredibly acting. I'm convinced she would have chemistry with a rock should the story require her to. This is my second time watching one of her dramas, and it certainly won't be the last. She's accompanied by Yang Yang, who albeit is a little more stiff in his acting, nonetheless manages to convince us of their undying love for each other. It was refreshing to see a drama without any unnecessary breakups or confusing love triangles. They supported each other from beginning until end.

It was also lovely to see a female main character who wasn't only supposed to be strong, but actually showed us that she was too. Unfortunately in dramas we're often told that the main character is supposed to be strong or powerful, but none of her actions showcase it. This was not a problem in this drama. We were quickly introduced to her character, and her moral compass. But even though she tried to be rightous and value all human life, she wasn't hesitant to get her hands dirty when the situation required it. Kudos to the writers and Zhao Lu Si for accomplishing this.

It wasn't all good however. One thing I always have some trouble with in chinese dramas is the over-the-top cgi they tend to prefer. It makes the show seem silly, even when it isn't supposed to be. I will also never understand why they insist on dubbing a show that is in their own language. Perhaps there is a reason for this that I just don't know about. But it still strikes me as odd.

The main problem I had with this show however, is the inconsistent pacing. Though it was enjoyable throughout, it felt like the middle part was dragged out unnecessarily long. The beginning was fast-paced and then it mellowed out into episodes that didn't feel like they furthered the plot very much at all. Which in turn made the ending very rushed. It seemed like they tried to cram 80% of the story into the final few episodes.

All in all, a very enjoyable drama. But one that definitely could have benefited from tighter writing or more episodes. Something I never thought I would wish unto a c drama.

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Completed
Edna Jessica
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 24, 2023
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

One of my favorites!

If you are looking for an amazing love story with a female lead role with wise, strength, and beauty, and the male lead role is strong, wise, caring, handsome, and loyal, this is the best one!

Personally, these types of dramas are my favorites because their love is pure, and they work together through all the adversities. I enjoy the dramas where the female lead role is capable of achieving greatness.

Zhao Lusi is the best actress of all, and Yang Yang is amazing! Both have perfect chemistry in this drama, which makes it one of the best ones!
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Completed
kdrama lover
0 people found this review helpful
Nov 24, 2024
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

Great story and actors

Finally finished the drama and I would say i really enjoyed watching it! Definitely recommend!! I never thought id ever be able watch 40 episodes without getting bored/lose interest half way through, but this drama clearly showed that with a good story line, plot and actors/actresses you can really get hooked and watch the drama all the way!
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Completed
tmnroses84
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 4, 2026
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Intense world-building wuxia of justice and power

The drama is not your average wuxia. It is a heavy with plot lines that build on one another with hidden identities, dangerous battles, and cross-kingdom politics. An entertaining watch that slowly captivates you with the sheer amount of lore.

The biggest standout is the leads' romance. Never have I witnessed such a healthy, mature relationship. They truly respect and view each other as equals. Such a partnership is hard to find where both the ML and FL come to each others' rescue. Their relationship is adorable, as they act like an old married couple. However, their romance is just not the focal point of the story.

Who Rules the World is a tale of politics and martial arts. It is a story that is constantly building as it escalates into war and death. The stakes are so high that it makes the romance simply not important enough. There are cute, sweet moments but there's always an insane amount of things happening that overshadow it.

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Completed
ii60q
0 people found this review helpful
May 4, 2026
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Masterpiece!!!!

The first thing I’d like to say is that this series is a masterpiece.

First, I’d like to talk about several things that attracted me to it:

1. The story:
The story is amazingly unpredictable. I’m not sure, but the idea of two martial arts rivals being lovers is truly wonderful. The storyline itself isn’t entirely new—like the hero wanting to unite nations, which I’ve seen in many series—but portraying the hero as seemingly weak while actually being cunning and intelligent is really impressive. This series made me think and kept me excited to see how the two protagonists would overcome the crises and obstacles in their way to achieve their dreams.

2. The cast:
Both Zhao Lusi and Yang Yang put a lot of effort into their acting—they are truly great actors. Their relationship felt pure, and they made me genuinely feel love and sincerity. Their chemistry is amazing, and I applaud the casting team for choosing them (haha, it’s obvious I got a bit jealous of their relationship). As for the other actors, they also performed their roles very well, to the point that I actually hated some of the characters. It seems I’ll feel a sense of emptiness after all the romance I’ve seen in this series.

3. Cinematography and production:
I liked that the director and production team didn’t overuse editing or excessive Photoshop and similar effects like in some other Chinese dramas. It leans more toward realism, which makes it easier to watch and stay focused.

4. The events:
As for the plot progression, it’s well-organized and not rushed, with a good pace—perhaps because the series has 40 episodes. I liked the speed and attention to detail, although there were things the show didn’t explore deeply, such as the Soultaker sect and its massacre, and not all the schemes and crimes of Yu Wuyuan were revealed.

We also weren’t shown what happened to Huang Chao’s sister—how she was killed or what happened to her body—and many other things that weren’t addressed. However, this didn’t negatively affect my overall evaluation.

There’s also a scene where Hei Fengxi helps Bai Fengxi and his hair turns white. When I saw that, I was reminded of Word of Honor, when Wen Kexing helped Zhou Zishu and his hair turned white and they became immortal. But to my shock, it turned out that Hei Fengxi would only live for 10 years, which made me sad.

As for the ending, I feel like it’s somewhere between sad and happy, but it leans more toward happiness. Hei Fengxi gives up his dream of uniting the nations because of his limited time, despite all the effort both of them made to achieve their ambitions. The fact that he only has 10 years left is also sad, but in the end, they seem to find peace after leaving power behind, spending their remaining time together, and living a normal life.

I wish there had been a special episode like in Word of Honor showing what happens between the two protagonists afterward. I also wanted to see their child, but five years without children makes me wonder why the writer chose that.

Usually, I don’t watch many Chinese dramas—I’ve seen no more than five—so I wanted to try something new. I don’t regret it at all, because I usually get bored with series longer than 20 episodes, but this one was so good that I finished it in about 3–4 days.

Personally, I highly recommend everyone to watch this series.

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Completed
ColdCoffee85
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 10, 2022
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 10

A Gem in the Drama Industry

This series has a very captivating story, plot lines, twists, aesthetic value, and a perfect balance of humor, romance, action, and drama.

Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi as headliners are already a superb combination of actors. I usually see Lusi in cute rom - coms but in this series, she is definitely something else, Yang Yang speaks conveys emotions through his eyes and it is very believable. Also, the supporting casts did their job perfectly.

The storyline and the plot twists, some are cliche but I can say it is not boring to watch. The Lines are well written.

The aesthetic of the series is just so good, you already have visuals like lusi and yang yang yet the cinematography, costumes, and CGI effects were done so well.

Overall, I rate this drama a 10/10 must-watch! I laughed, cried, and relate to some of the characters in the drama. Thank you for this masterpiece.

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Completed
XS33
0 people found this review helpful
Jul 10, 2024
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Enjoyed the political struggle

LIKE

How the soldiers protected Feng Xi Yun which also impressed Dong Shu Fang

The manipulative storyline and all the characters how they evolved

DISLIKE

Yang Yang's limited facial expression which happened in almost every drama he starred

MUSIC - personal fav

风息 Feng Xi - 胡彦斌 Hu Yan Bin, 叶炫清 Ye Xuan Qing
无双 Wu Shuang - 刘宇宁 Liu Yu Ning

REWATCH VALUE

Yes to enjoy the moment again
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Completed
Hyunjaegyu
0 people found this review helpful
Dec 18, 2024
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0

Hei-Bai Fengxi = best duo

Overall 11/10
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

Who Rules The World is such an incredible drama! I truly enjoyed the entire experience of watching this. 40 episodes were enough but I would have loved even more! I feel that shows just how good the drama is. I was an absolute trainwreck during some of the final episodes but I truly enjoyed it! Following the story of Hei-Bai Fengxi was so fun and just the development of the characters blew me away. Zhao Lusi has yet again showed me that she is such an amazing actress and I have yet to watch a drama of hers that does not impress me. Yang Yang also brought his character Feng Lanxi to life in such a way that I could not help but fall in love. The plot twists keep you on the edge of your seat and the slow/forbidden romance is to die for!
Highly, highly recommend watching!!

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Completed
ForeverAsianfan1957
0 people found this review helpful
Apr 18, 2025
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Hooked!!

My first time to watch this first Asian show!! Couldn't turn off and got me addicted every episode. Now I want to watch many historical Asian shows. Imagine for this 67 years old woman! Never thought I would get to see this kind of show. Love everything this in from clothes to martial arts.
Both actor and actress did very well performed. I did watch this twice.
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Completed
AriannaColombani
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 23, 2026
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.5
This review may contain spoilers

Came for Yang Yang. A part of that, Strong Leads, Strong Story

Headline: Came for Yang Yang,
stayed for the visual masterpiece
(even if C-dramas aren't my
thing) As someone whose cultural background and viewing history usually lean elsewhere, C- dramas have never been my "cup of tea." However, I had to make an exception for Who Rules the World, and let's be honest: I did it entirely for Yang Yang.

Headline: A stunning visual journey
driven by Yang Yang's charisma (A
Newbie's Perspective)
Coming from a completely different cultural background, C-dramas were never really on my
radar. I'll be honest:I hit "play" on Who Rules the World exclusively for Yang Yang, and he did not disappoint.
The Power Couple:
While Yang Yang is the undisputed visual king of this series-bringing an incredible mix of cold intelligence and regal grace to Hei Fengxi I was pleasantly surprised by the female lead, Zhao Lusi (Bai Fengxi). She isn't the typical "damsel in distress" you might expect if you're new to the genre. She is fierce, independent, and his equal in every way. Their chemistry is what truly grounds the show; they don't just fall in love, they respect each other as warriors and strategists.


The plot is a complex web of martial arts (Wuxia) and palace politics. As someone not used to these tropes, I found the "power struggle" between the six states quite intense.
Even if the political segments felt a bit heavy at times, the high-stakes rivalry kept me engaged. The story manages to balance the grand scale of war with the intimate growth of the two protagonists.
Production & Aesthetics:
The cinematography is breathtaking. Every frame looks like a painting, from the elaborate costumes to the fluid, dance-like fight
choreographies. Even if Chinese dramas aren't your "usual" genre, the sheer beauty of the production makes it a world worth visiting.
Final Thoughts:
Yang Yang was the bridge that brought me into this world, but the strong dynamic between the leads and the epic scale of the story kept me there. If you're hesitant about starting a C- drama, let this be your first-the visuals alone. it's worth seeing

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Completed
Patricia Naumann Tan
0 people found this review helpful
Mar 7, 2024
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10

Totally love it

Great movie, great casts, great music!

Had this on my "Want to watch" list for some time but was hesitating in watching it because it was 40 episodes long and I rarely have the time to binge that many. But, no regrets doing the binge.

The series is awesome, alot of familiar actors and actresses in this series, including my favorites Yang Yang and Zhao LuSi. The storyline is indeed interesting and awesome, surrounded with loads of action, drama, romance and even humor. Yang Yang and Zhao LuSi indeed have great chemistry together, be it romantically or the humor parts. I especially love watching the parts where you find a confused Yang Yang when it came to Zhao LuSi's funny antics. It is especially funny to watch how, from the beginning, that the Male Lead actually likes the Female lead but is oblivious to it. The jealous moments are really cute to watch also. Overall, the entire cast for this series really did a great job bringing this series to life - especially the evil Stepmother queen (with looks and attitude xD).

The music paired with this series is also very beautifully paired. Love every single song they have. Too bad that Yang Yang and LuSi did not do a duet together. Would have loved to hear these 2 voices together - have listened to all of their individual songs.

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