The Demon Hunter's Romance

Interesting Drama a break from usual CDrama tropes.

On the very first impression of the leads, ML is very good-looking. This look suits him so well. Nothing to comment all very well done. FL, the costume styling and hairstyle don't suit her at all, but I love the way she looks with her hair down. I really hate this drama FL costume. Even in other dramas, I do not like this clothing styling. Rarely a few look decent in this style to me.
The EP 1 OST with the mountain demons was so good; the very scene pulled me into continuing to watch this drama. Wow, I wish I could see more of them.
The Demon Cases:
1. Sister-in-Law Owl Demona good one, didn't you think? And she was not harmful to the leads.
2. Mirror Demon - Good case; I did accept this demon; it's kind of common.
3. The Inn & Doll Demon - Expected case, but man, the shoot and acting of everyone was just amazing, mainly the doll demon. She played the role very well and very impressively.
4. Cat Demon with Nine Lives was a nice play to connect many things.
5. The Snake Demon—Sad they were not given much importance and were sidelined because of the turning-on-leads story. He deserves more screentime, and I feel sad for him. Very good, demon.
The white bird was a nice play to the story.
6. Painting Demon Case—The demon case that took too much EP and dragging; it was kind of nice but dragged a lot and was given unnecessary importance. The guy playing the sand demon—man, I hate him now. I hated his role very much on Moonlight Mystique; with this role, I hate this guy.
7. The villain guy—boy, you were less interesting and made the story boring as well, very common power hunter.
The life stories of both leads were given less importance.
8. The half-brother: Thank God, man, you were not an evil person. Very happy to see that.
The ML demon arc and his demon world were almost forgotten. Why not have a story there and develop a connection because it was interesting but missing opportunity?
Overall good drama that breaks froml C-drama, which is refreshing to see.

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Although the beginning was a bit weak, the series later recovered and went well. It was a well-thought-out story. However, there were some mistakes while editing. Of course, I am skipping some things because they are fantastic. However, it did not seem convincing to me that a very weak and sickly uncle beat his brother for two episodes. Of course, he has been given hundreds of talents, he knocks him down if he blows. It did not work for me. Secondly, Ren Jia Lun looks very slumped at the beginning, I do not know if it is because of the clothes he wears or the weakness of the actor. His posture is hunched, weary and bored. Here he is supposedly playing a Demon Hunter and is a warrior. He beats up anyone who comes his way. But this posture did not work. The director should have paid attention to this and at least he should have been made to stand upright, if it is about the clothes, he should have been dressed in proper clothes that fit him, this actor has played in most of the series he has played in costume series and is an experienced actor. However, I could not see these here. He is a very good actor, he has lived and gained experience, I expect much better. I had watched a few dramas of our actress Song Zu Er before. She had played dynamic roles. I can say that she had a very exciting and lively performance. She was very good here too. However, it seemed to me that they had a bit of a hard time in the scenes with the male actor. However, she was much better in the scenes apart from him. In other words, no matter how much effort there was between the actors, some things are obvious. The only negative thing I would say about Song Zu Er in this drama is that her mouth is open, it does not suit a star actress. I think she has a problem with her nose and wants to breathe through her mouth, she always looks like her mouth is open. This spoils her image. This is very obvious in some places. Otherwise, the actress is a very good actress with her physique, height and appearance. Her dynamic acting did not suit the immobile male actor. But they still played well. Apart from that, Xuan Yan who played Chief Chu, our Judge Girl Fan Shuai Qi, Rabbit Demon Liu Ruo Gu, Servant Girl Liu Qi Qi, Vinnie Yao were very good. I liked our veteran actors very much. Congratulations to Hankiz Omar as the dancing girl, Zhang Zu Xin who plays the Puppet Demon, Sha Man Li Yu, Wu Chong Xuan as the Snake Demon, and Sun Tian Yu as BanXia's fiancée for adding value to their roles. I also liked these actors. In the end, everyone forgot each other. The girl remembered but they couldn't get together. So it was a sad ending. I didn't like it but it made the audience cry. I think there will be a second season.

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Good plot, good acting

The plot is fresh and engaging, with a touch of the old-school supernatural charm reminiscent of classic Liaozhai-inspired stories. The characters are well-developed, and even the supporting roles are portrayed with depth and conviction — each with their own compelling backstory.

Visually, the film is impressive, with strong investment in both art direction and special effects, creating an immersive and atmospheric world.

The only downside is the altered ending, which feels less impactful and leaves several early story elements unresolved. It’s a pity, as the film had built up so much momentum, only to lose some of its emotional payoff in the final act.

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A Demon Fantasy That Won Me Over

This drama really took me by surprise. I struggle with some of Ren Jialun’s dramas, so I initially passed on this one—especially since I was already having a hard time getting through Love of Nirvana. I didn’t think another watch would work for me. But after ranking Love and Crown as a top-shelf favorite, I decided to come back to this, and I’m really glad I did. While it didn’t quite reach top-shelf status, it comfortably landed in my upper tier.

I loved the theme and the investigative storyline. It held my attention with a steady trajectory, and I was engaged with the narrative from start to finish. The characters were likable—some even lovable—and I found myself genuinely invested, almost crying through certain scenes and smiling through others. Some viewers have said the romance is minimal, but for me it was enough. In fact, there were moments when it felt like a bit too much, pulling focus from the plot. I tend to prefer romances that support the story rather than slow it down, serving more as a backdrop or arc than a constant marker for relationship beats.

Overall, this drama worked well for me and now I am curious about the novel.

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Great concept!

I really liked this drama, it was conceptually and visually impressive and unique, which I really appreciated since the premise isn’t all that new. Song Zu Er is an absolute gift that keeps on giving, she nailed every emotional scene - when she cries, I cry with her! The romance wasn’t my cup of tea to be honest, simply because the chemistry between the leads felt more platonic than romantic, however, I still enjoyed their dynamic! My favorite arcs were probably the puppet demon and the painting arc! The acting during the puppet arc was so well done, and I loved seeing Ban Xia kick ass while they were trapped in the painting! A nice switch-up since she usually physically depended on Xuan Ye to be protected. I understand why it ended the way it did, but the very last scene could have been different lol. Other than that, the show was decent, I just wish the storylines had been a little shorter as the show felt a little too drawn out! The OST was so beautiful as well btw!

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Promising start, lame finish

To say that I have low expectations with xianxia dramas nowadays is an understatement. Sure, there are the odd superior shows. Unfortunately, most are formulaic and relied too much on CGI. I was pleasantly surprised by this series . . . up to a point.

Let's be honest, the basic concept is OG. Demons and humans are coexisting in this dramaverse but not happily. Not exactly mortal enemies but they are definitely eyeing each other with deep suspicion and taking potshots at each other. Hence the need of demon hunters. Some are righteous and just while others want to exterminate all demons with extreme prejudice.

The A-plot mostly focuses on the adventure of one particular demon hunter. It is a mixed bag. Most subplots are decent, the "Groundhog Day" one was derivative but entertaining. While the puppet one ends up being a bit draggy. Then we have the romance of the OTP. This is what sustains the show for me.

The fact that our leads are experienced actors helped. These roles are bread and butter for them nowadays. It does allow them to add some depth to their characters. Their romance is sweet and there is not a lot of push-pulls. Their love is rock solid once confirmed.

The build-up to the final confrontation was nicely done and it was fast and furious. What comes next left me dumbfounded.

>>> Spoiler Alert <<<
The show undid everything that happened in the preceding 34 eps with the swing of a magic sword. The result is so clunky it boggled my mind. Rather than ride the momentum to a sweet and rewarding ending, we have a really disjointed open ending that is deeply unrewarding.

In this alternative timeline, most wrongs were righted. The OTP reunites after 12 years apart. They are gifted a few days of bliss. Their "old" friends gathered for a meal so that the ML can catch-up and say farewell. They have no idea who he is but they rolled with it. It was nice because we knew what happened before but it doesn't feel earned. Then the OTP just parted ways while looking miserable. How is this an improvement?

I believe the writer actually wrote a happy ending originally but iQIYI management insisted on this version. What kind of stupid logic did they use to justify this?!

Just give us some straightforward fan service. We are easy to please. If we want torture porn, we would have watched a different show. There are no silver lining to a rug pull.

Baffling. Peace.

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Missed Potential

I thought the story itself was solid, but the casting really didn’t work for me.

I found the female lead whiny and annoying, which made it hard to stay invested. As for the male lead, I’ve seen him in Love of Nirvana as well, and I have the same issue there: I just don’t find his romances believable. His acting feels very one-note—he’s constantly playing surprise that someone could like him. His emotional range seems stuck on “shocked,” and when his feelings change, there’s no buildup. One moment he doesn’t like the FL, and the next he suddenly does, without any visible emotional transition.

In contrast, I’m currently watching Liu Xue Yi, and the difference is striking. You can actually see him fall for the FL bit by bit—his expressions, body language, and emotional shifts make the romance feel earned and real. That gradual development is exactly what I felt was missing in Demon Hunters.

And then there’s the ending. Just… wow. The time travel conveniently resets everything, undoing all the emotional stakes. Having the ML follow the FL since childhood only to ultimately leave her made the conclusion feel pointless and unsatisfying. I wasn’t alone in feeling this way—other reviewers have said the same. For me, the ending completely undermined the journey and made the whole thing feel like a waste.

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An escape to magic, tears and genuine connections!

The drama that made me cry the most! It started off with very mysterious, serious and beautiful story, the one that keeps you hooked for the next 5 episodes. It's basically about a demon hunter and normal gov official's daughter who can see demons after an accident. She seeks his help regarding her father's disappearance and gradually they grow closer as they work on other demon cases, along with their friends crew, 'The Guanping City Squad' (my nickname to them). I loved watching the different demons' chaos and how they set up the whole story and our characters' movements against it like I would literally watch all 7-8 episodes at glance until that one demon's arc is completed. The stage designs were so good, the acting, the OSTs, the story and the implementation. More than romance, expect a whirlwind ride of demon hunting and friendship in making. It is a very heartwarming drama, where you can expect genuine laughs and anticipation.

At the start, I did not like FL's character that much, like she was too different from the other conventional FLs of Chinese historical dramas. She acted too much on her emotions, too reluctant and too afraid. But slowly, her character evolved into one of the best, balanced and quick-witted FLs I have ever witnessed. She is cute, too caring but at the same time, wise and brave. She never felt like a burden to the ML and slowly her character shined. She never gave up on her love or family or friends, an embodiment of true sincerity and loyalty. She will always speak her heart out in contrast to the ML. When he failed at words, she gave the words to their love. No toxicity, no crazy family drama, no stupid love triangle and no useless misunderstandings, just common lives seeking their purpose and outshining themselves.

All characters are so strongly developed and we can resonate with each one of them, even though the main trope is given the most importance. Every character is built on some value and personal conflict. The whole demon vs human and good vs bad concept are so powerfully depicted. Usually, such demon-human love stories have sad ending, and so thus this one. But I really hope for Season 2. The emotions that are portrayed with their every movement and facial expressions transcend words. Their longing, love and passion for each other is on next level, something pure and unconditional. Many a times, you will not see it evidently, the drama lacks romance scenes as such but its in those sad hugs, happy embrace or shared laughter and light humor. All comes out so beautifully balanced.

Don't expect so much focus on ML and FL romance trope, because the drama is much more than that and wants to convey something beyond that. only by the last 10 episodes, their love finally blooms and takes shape, where they realize they can't live without each other and keep coming back to each other, even if the end holds only parting in their fate. Like such a strong and different drama it was, had serious undertones and the ending just leaves us hanging in between like them for each other. No matter if their minds forget each other, their hearts will still beat for each other. The epic, dangerous love story of a demon turned demon hunter and a meek, underconfident turned fearless lady - XUANYE AND BANXIA.

Even I don't know when they truly felt for each other and truly wished for having more scenes of their love story depiction and those small memorable times spent together, in between those demon hunts. It felt like there was no breathing space or the main trope was not given that evident importance. So at times I do felt disconnected from their story, but their pure emotions for each other so subtle yet heart wrenching, always kept me rooting for more. If you seek light hearted, action, friendship and a little sparkle of pure romance i.e. originality and fun, then go for this! Can't expect more from such a drama, so simple yet so powerful. I guarantee you that you will never get bored while watching this. Watch this for story not romance.

And I really wanted to see more of second couple's love story, but it will somehow always be dropped in between, even till the last. Like none of them got a proper closing or beginning. Just telling us the unpredictability and the pain you have to endure, bravery that it demands, and a selfless heart, to truly witness it or be a part of it. The whole timer reverse or memory losing scene at the end, really left the viewers astray. Like all the previous episodes and scenes and memories felt fake, those strong connections and genuine friendships, but that was all the drama was teaching us - to give up, to move on and still carry a heart that follows its purpose.

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An interesting plot and a good watch. Kudos to Song ZuEr for her acting skills.

The Demon Hunter's Romance is a costume drama starring Allen Ren and Song Zu Er. The story revolves around the coexistence of humans and demons, where a human girl falls in love with a demon hunter who turns out to be a demon himself.

The plot was interesting, and the supporting cast was amusing. Allen Ren can't act; he maintains the same facial expression regardless of whether he is happy or sad. Song Zu Er carried this drama; her acting was so good. It was nice to see her back onscreen after the tax evasion mishaps. I am watching her in The Prisoner of Beauty with Liu Yi Ning, which is an awesome drama.

This drama doesn't have a happy ending, but I can understand. I know many netizens did not like the ending. I don't mind it because humans and demons cannot coexist.

Synopsis: In Guangping City, where humans and demons coexist, Ban Xia, a wealthy girl with the rare ability to see demons' true forms, is deemed delusional by her family. After exposing her cousin's bride as a demon, she's forced to flee and meets demon hunter Xuan Ye. He helps her see the hidden world more clearly and reveals that not all demons are evil. As they investigate her father's mysterious death and other strange events, their bond deepens. But Xuan Ye's buried past and a shocking truth about his identity threaten to tear them apart.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 8
2. Script: 8
3. Music/OST: 7
4. Production Quality: 7
5. Cinematography: 7
6. Rewatchable: 8
7. Onscreen Chemistry: 7

Overall Rating: 7.5

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