This review may contain spoilers
Visually, musically, emotionally - This show hits all the right spots!
Season 1 ended well, leaving the audience much to look forward to in Season 2!I was anticipating this drama not only because of Dilireba but also because of the director, Zhu Rui Bin (Chu Yui Bun), whose works included "The Long Ballad". Apparently, a casual conversation between Zhu Rui Bin and Dilireba, who was reading the "Blue Whisper" novel, led to the filming of the series and their collaboration. For those interested, the novel "Blue Whisper" is written by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang, and you can find a good English translated version here: https://wayeast.weebly.com/the-blue-whisper.html. I started reading and finished the novel when I was almost done watching Season 1, and it is a good read!
This show is tagged as a Xianxia, an ancient Chinese fairy tale set in a magical fantasy realm, with gods, monsters, ghosts, and cultivators (or xiūshì) who seek to become immortal beings called xian. As for the female lead, she is a guardian/spiritual master of the Wan Hua Valley. The male lead is Chang Yi, a Merman (or jiaoren) captured by Princess Shunde, an immortal and the older sister of Tianjun who is the Lord/Emperor of the Heavenly Court.
The drama starts with an episode highlighting the intelligence and kindness of our female lead, Ji Yun He, portrayed by Dilireba. Yun He is resourceful, and she seeks to achieve what she wants through the least harm to everyone involved. She is pitted against her "senior disciple brother", Lin Hao Qing, the young master of Wan Hua Valley. He appears crueler and one who would stop at nothing to get what he wants. However, his actions are contradictory, especially when it comes to Yun He. The audience will find out why eventually.
In exchange for a high reward, Yun He and Hao Qing accepted a challenge from Princess Shunde to transform the captured Merman into her subject by 1) teaching him to speak, 2) for him to grow legs, and 3) ensuring that he is forever loyal to the Princess.
The story focuses on the main couple's journey, as Yun He and Chang Yi fall in love, and the trials and tribulations they go through for each other. In season 1, the audience may find that the main couple does not have enough screentime together, and much of the story is also about the side characters. However, for me, each character adds depth to the story, and I find the side stories engaging. That being said, I still want to see Season 2 showcasing Yun He and Chang Yi more.
Visually, musically, emotionally - The story pulled me in so deeply. The production is undoubtedly high-quality, and a lot of attention is paid to the details. The costumes and sets provide a striking visual impact, and the special effects/CGI are well-done, immediately evoking feelings of wonder and fantasy. I like the cinematography, where the director filmed from different angles and views, providing a fresh experience, and drawing in the audience. Furthermore, the choreography for the fights, flying, and other action shots were done so superbly. I watched the "behind the scenes" (BTS) clips and it is obvious how much effort and time the actors put into practicing the wire-flying and martial arts moves.
So far, this show is a gem - it flows nicely and is well-executed. Each episode kept up the pace, never lost the momentum, and just got better and better. With unexpected twists and turns (some not in the novel), I never feel tempted to skip, and there are scenes that I would rewatch just so I could appreciate the gestures, effects, and words again.
The episodes show different aspects of a situation and the different perspectives of the characters, who are interesting and none are superfluous. No one is all good (except Chang Yi initially) or all bad. Every good character has flaws, and each villain has a backstory that makes them relatable and their actions justifiable. You will come to understand what the characters go through, the reasons for their emotions, and their circumstances. Overall, the script scores points with dynamic characters who struggle with their actions, who are not always clear if they are doing the right thing or what the right thing even is. I find myself connecting with the characters and rooting for many of them. As the story progresses, there are many more tears-inducing scenes, and I become more emotionally invested.
I have nothing but praises for the acting delivered by Dilireba, Allen Ren, and the other actors, including Xiao Shun Yao (very manly!), Hu Yi Xuan, Fan Zhen. Together, their looks are a visual feast for the eyes.
Dilireba fits the role of Yun He perfectly, but then again, this is not surprising since she often plays intelligent, quick-witted, and strong female leads. This time, it is another female lead with a tragic background that formed her resilient character. As expected, she looks gorgeous in her outfits and make-up. Just wait till you see her transform into her demon animal, you would be blown away! To me, she has improved even more in this role, honing her skills to deliver the story via her eyes and facial expressions. She does so well not only in scenes with increased, intense emotions, like laughing while crying during the ironic or tragic moments, but also in simple scenes where the audience only needs to watch her face and feel the loss or longing that Yun He is going through.
Likewise, Allen Ren impresses me with his ability to emote a myriad of feelings and thoughts just with his eyes and micro-expressions. His character does not speak for the first couple of episodes, and only through his physical acting, can still move the story well. Side note: I read that Allen got criticized for wearing a muscle suit during his merman scenes, but that still does not detract from his fineness. Chang Yi is the epitome of pure goodness in the show, which is what Yun He is drawn to at first. Allen delivers this innocence well but he is also able to easily express anger, nobleness, and arrogance. His visuals are not my usual preference, but in this show, in that persona, he's captivating. His transformation from trusting, naive, "fresh out of the water" Chang Yi to the all-powerful Lord of the North highlights Allen's acting chops.
The show does a great job, allowing each main actor to showcase their talents and skills. Yun He is featured more in the earlier episodes, and I like her character development. Then in the later part, Chang Yi has more screen time, and he becomes way cooler and more impressive.
The entire cast has performed well, and the supporting characters help to carry this show. There is such good rapport among them, like the endearing sismance between Yun He and Luo Luo, her butterfly spirit, played by adorable Hu Yi Xuan. I also appreciate Xiao Shun Yao's portrayal of Lin Hao Qing's character, who displays conflicting motivations, forced to act a role to protect someone he cares for. Compared to the novel, the show made Hao Qing more complex.
The OSTs are on another level, with appropriate pieces underscoring the scenes. The starting and ending songs are very fitting, and both set a dramatic and emotional tone that is infused throughout the show. The more I listen, the more I like them! For posterity, I have recorded the main tracks here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpzFy3Rzd74
Song: 留白是表白 (More Than Blanks)
Artist: 金志文 (Jin Zhi Wen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExRgy5Ry3C8
Song: 鮫人之歌 (The Song of the Merman)
Artist: 周深 (Zhou Shen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_pzD0itRfo
Song：#如你所想 (As You Wish)
Artist：#毛不易 (Buyi Mao)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtKnVuUxCN4
Song: 魚躍而上 (Leaping Fish)
Artist: 薩頂頂 (Sa Dingding)
On the whole, I find this drama worth watching and following. Not surprisingly, many of us are eagerly waiting for the English subtitles to appreciate it fully. I will rewatch this show when the whole show completes airing with proper subs in case I may have missed any nuances during the first watch.
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Mermaids Only Listen to The Heart's Voice, It Says You are Worth It
The Blue Whisper: Part 1 (与君初相识) is a 22 episode drama adapted from the novel 驭鲛记, The Blue Whiper by 九鹭非香. The Blue Whisper is set in a universe where there are magical races (demon) and spiritual masters (human with longer lifespan). The narrative revolves around Ji Yunhe, a spiritual master but also a nine-tailed demon fox and Chang Yi, a mermaid and the lord of north.Helmed by Zhu Ruibin, the director from Ashes of Love, The Long Ballad, Noble Aspirations and more; you can have a high expectation for this drama! The Blue Whisper has a high-quality production that features a splendid set, lavish costumes, remarkable cinematography, brilliantly choreographed scenes, an enchanting music score, and more.
The Blue Whisper sets, props, scenery and people are simply eye-catching, which keeps one visually interested all the way through. Unlike most historical dramas lately, The Blue Whisper has a vibrant and bold colour palette and outfit which makes it refreshing to see! The drama also has exemplary cinematography, the use of soft filters and vibrant colour at the same time provides a pleasant and vivid viewing experience. Every shot is also beautifully angled creating a feast for the eyes. Moreover, The Blue Whisper also has a beautifully done and well-rendered CGI and special effects. The use of authentic set designs and props also further enhance the realism of the whole universe.
The Blue Whisper narrative is brilliant and captivating, even if you don’t read the book beforehand, you would understand the drama as the overall narrative is easy to follow and well-paced. The drama storytelling is progressively paced and satisfyingly engaging with hardly a dull moment or substantial fillers. There are some light-hearted scenes with pure comedy, and some of the drama’s dialogue is also witty and sprinkled with light humor. Although some may find the troupe of lying to each other in order to save them is kinda cliché but this one doesn’t bore you.
What I adore from this drama is that every character in the drama is extremely well-written, each has its own distinctive personalities and qualities; they are multi-faceted and complex. Each character is properly dimensioned and balanced, even the “bad” characters have shades of grey, no one is black or white. They have their own background story and obsession, which leads to their action; thus, you might even feel their actions are justifiable. Although the main couple is the focus of the story, other characters and their relationships are not cheated out of a good storyline too! In addition, I also love how the side characters build up and enrich the whole story, instead of being just there for the necessary of the drama plot. You care for the characters and even if you don’t like some of the characters, others will most certainly capture your interest and heart.
Ji Yunhe and Chang Yi is stellarly portrayed by Dilireba and Ren Jialun. Both actor’s facial expressions and emotions are compelling. Their acting can make us relate and feel the character’s happiness, anger, pain that you can’t help but shed tears for them. Both of the actors can also convey their love, heartbreak and everything through their eyes and micro-expressions. It is unimaginable that anyone can pull off Ji Yunhe and Chang Yi in such compelling way other than Dilireba and Ren Jialun. Furthermore, Dilireba and Ren Jialun also have explosive chemistry; there is a great rapport between them and the romance are very good. They look fitting together and there are many squel-worthy moments.
Ren Jialun’s portrayal of an innocent tailed fish to an overbearing North lord is excellent! But what I find really commendable from his acting here is his acting of an innocent and pure tailed fish, it is unlike something he has shown before, he has acted as a cute and innocent 8 year old kid before in Under The Power, but here he is totally different he evokes a different charm. Ren Jialun character didn’t speak a word on the early episodes (until eps 3) but he still managed to convey his emotions with his eyes (sorrow, happy, anger and more). That’s what I find really amazing from Ren Jialun, he can simply convey his emotions with his eyes, and here with his pouty lips.
Dilireba also did a very commendable job! Dilireba has the ability to blend into every role, and in my opinion, Dilireba’s performance as Ji Yunhe here is several notches above all her works so far. The way she conveys her emotions through nuanced micro-expression and articulating every scene is beyond words. Especially on those scenes where she was laughing and crying at the same, when she turned into the nine-tailed demon fox. Every single Dilireba performance here is really praise-worthy.
Also, special mention to Hu Yixuan, she is adorable. Luoluo is loyal, bubbly, and clueless and Hu Yixuan manages to portray her and her lovable quirks so precisely. I bet she’ll steal your heart! Her scenes with Dilireba is also heart-warming and cute to see!
The Blue Whisper music scoring is also incredible. Sa Dingding is the music director for The Blue Whisper and she did a really great job! Every single OST and background sound is hauntingly beautiful, it’ll give you goosebumps. Each song also encapsulates a deep, beautiful and meaningful story. The poignant classical instrumental piece that accompanies the scene also sets a dramatic and emotional tone.
Overall, The Blue Whisper keeps you engaged and engrossed, you’ll find yourself wanting more new episodes!
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The truth will make them free.
This is a review of The Blue Whisper in its entirety - I will not review Part 1 and Part 2 separately.The Blue Whisper is an enthralling fairytale about how love can be both imprisoning and liberating. Set in a fantasy world where sky immortals or fairies instill order and earth immortals or demons are prone to chaos, romantic entanglements between these two clans are forbidden. This kind of inter-species ban pretty much ensures that sky immortals and earth immortals fall for each other with reckless impunity.
Ji Yunhe is the most consummate spirit master among Wanhua Valley's elite cadre of demon tamers. She longs desperately to escape from the Valley; to see the world and be free. Chang Yi, a magnificent and powerful merman is captured by the wicked, conceited Shunde fairy, who tasks the Valley to tame and enslave him. Seeing it as her ticket to freedom, Yunhe vies with her sect brother, the Valley Master's son Lin Haoqing, to complete the task. Where Haoqing attempts to torture Chang Yi into submission, Yunhe beguiles him with kindness, friendship and love. Yunhe successfully manipulates and entices the naïve Chang Yi's heart for her own selfish ends. Along the way, the player gets played as Yunhe falls for his sincerity and sees that it is wrong to enslave such a pure hearted and innocent being. But even though she sacrifices to free him, her well intended lies set in motion a cycle of half truths, sacrifices. betrayals and captivity that ensnares them both. After a long and difficult quest for freedom with many trials, they understand that it is the truth that makes them free.
The story is set in a stunning, enchanted fantasy world with a vivid magical color palette, mystical sets and the best costumes and styling I have seen in a long time. The CGI is well done but errs on the side of being heavy handed at times. The storytelling however, leaves quite a bit to be desired. There are way too many artifacts, especially pearls with endless magical properties to conveniently save the day. And when dead characters keep being revived, both the element of surprise and the emotional impact is diminished. In addition to unnecessary side characters, there are altogether five well developed CPs that explore repetitive tortured themes of taboo relationships, deception, betrayal and how love can both be both confining and liberating. A few of these side stories are not interesting and too long winded and the frequent alternating between too many CPs and plot threads breaks the momentum of Yunhe and Chang Yi's story and makes the main plot stagnate as well. Thus I did not feel Yunhe and Chang Yi's chemistry or get invested in their storyline until Part 2 where many threads converge and the storytelling improves markedly.
I am really happy to see Dilraba take on the role of such a complex and conflicted character as Yunhe; one that undergoes so much anguish and such profound change. Though she made me feel her love and pain many times, I still like her portrayal of the cunning, manipulative and self serving Yunhe in the beginning best. As for Ren Jialun, he is a master of the unspoken and of intense suffering in silence. I can't fault his performance and am simply tickled that he is willing to do so many kiss scenes with the exquisite Dilraba. They look so incredible together in this production that they must be the most gorgeous costume drama couple by a wide margin. That said, while Chang Yi is intensely single minded when it comes to love, loyalty and righteousness, this is not innately a complex character and thus the role doesn't quite do Ren Jialun justice in terms of broadening his acting repertoire.
The character that compells me to the point of stealing the show is Lin Haoqing; brilliantly and sublimely articulated by Xiao Shunyao. From the get go, I was more drawn to Haoqing's chemistry with Yunhe - they are on the same wavelength, bound by history and layered and complex emotions. Like Chang Yi, Haoqing is torn between duty and Yunhe but unlike Chang Yi who is more reactive, he proactively schemes ahead, takes bold risks and tries for win win outcomes. Lin Haoqing and Yunhe get to do all kinds of interesting and important things that advance the plot while poor Chang Yi is relegated to safeguarding Beiyuan and dealing with the petty, boring issues of the fox clan. Chang Yi only comes in useful in mighty showdowns and even then, his power ups are marred by unflattering camerawork that catch him scowling angrily as if he is trying to take a dump. I can't help but feel that the plot short changes my beloved sour faced Ren Jialun, an actor I am super fond of. That said, I only have praise Xiao Shunyao's ability to make me feel Lin Haoqing's suffering no less than Chang Yi and Yun He's. I hope good things happen to this handsome and compelling actor.
Though I don't consider Xian Shi or Shunde's motives as villains that convincing, both roles are very well acted. In fact, Guo Xiaoting's Shunde can give one of my all time favorite villains, Angelina Jolie's Maleficent a run for the money. Guo thrusts herself into the role with mesmerising relish and wicked abandon. A dash of dark humor would have rendered the portrayal incomparable. As for the rest of the (too) extensive cast, even though a few characters got screen time that was disproportionate to the substance of their storylines, the roles are well performed enough to win a place in my heart. The friendship, support and sacrifice from Fan Zhen and Lishu as well as the hilarious Kong Ming and Luo Luo is clearly what gets Yunhe and Chang Yi through the loneliness of their many trials and tribulations. And I just simply love the idea of such a youthfully adorable Tian Jun.
This drama finishes strongly with an exciting and well chareographed final confrontation. But I won't lie, the ending is a bit of a blue whimper. There are simply too many reversals that make me roll my eyes. As for the final 5 minutes, it succumbs to c-drama's nasty habit of wanting to be all things to all people. Nonetheless, it is still an acceptable finale that from a certain point of view can be seen as quite fitting. The storytelling in Part 1 tried my patience and is at best an 8.0 but I really enjoyed Part 2, which I can happily rate a 9.0. Since I don't think it makes sense to rate both parts separately, this is an 8.5 overall. As of end April, this is my personal top ranked drama for 2022.
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This review may contain spoilers
Luxurious Cinematography, CGI, and Costumes---Screenplay Sold Separately.
First and foremost, I'd like to thank the fan subbers for doing this entire part for us. Without them, we'd still be waiting. They made it possible. I will be reviewing the parts separately as I don't want one to influence the other. I watched this series because Dilraba is one of the people I follow.Pros: The only reason this drama is getting a higher score is because of the absolutely stunning cinematography, CGI, luxurious and richly colored costumes, and some of the OSTs. Production spared no expense there. The last time I saw a production even closely resemble this one was ELOD which also starred Dilraba. But this one clearly went full steam with the richness of each location and their gorgeous and bright colors.
While I liked Yunhe and her complexity as a character; I felt she had way more chemistry with Lin junior as I nicknamed him; the one she called older brother. His love and protection of her though falling short many times, was raw and real. I liked him more after I learned his secret and how much he wanted to save those who he cared about most including the entire Wanhua Valley. The man, whether he succeeds or fails in part 2 is already a hero in my book.
Other decent characters were Kong Ming for steadfastly standing on Chang Yi's side and helping him along the way. Head Immortal is a good antagonist and he's evil enough where while you can't stand him, you also understand he's a necessary evil. Can't say I liked old man wheelchair though he didn't need a wheelchair, but when he died and Lin junior was grieving; that was one of the few times in part 1 that tears came to my eyes. The man was a horrible ruler, father, etc and yet....there was always that yet. So a decent character.
Mediocre characters that were confusing and I'm not sure where to place them yet were the peacock that was released from underground, Li Shu, and San Yue; perhaps in part 2 they'll do better. So I'll leave them alone for now. Also immortal bodyguard Cheng Ye and the kid emperor were decent and I hope to see them evolve more as well.
Cons: When I wrote screenplay sold separately, I wasn't kidding. It was a mess. A zillion characters whose names you don't remember nor want to. Every single relationship between every couple was essentially sadomasochistic. Lies, betrayal, secrets kept, scheming to either harm or protect which 9 times out of 10 backfired. I didn't know if I was coming or going. The character Chang Yi didn't offer much; it was disappointing. I didn't feel his chemistry with Yunhe was beyond friendship that was clumped together haphazardly out of thin air. He always looked either constipated or stoned; I hope part 2 shows something more from him.
The annoying butterfly maid drove me batty. In the first 5 episodes, she had more lines and screen time then the leads. And she would yammer nonstop. I legit ffw when she would start. Also the other big bad was Shunde? Really? All she did was throw her weight around and whine. Yes, she's vicious and ruthless but I couldn't take her seriously as a proper villain when she acted like a drama queen and diva 99% of the time. Gorgeous costumes on her but her character was just roll-your-eyes worthy at best.
I don't remember any of the others because they were really that forgettable. It wasn't just one plot with maybe 2 subplots but about 76 of them all running amok where I legit felt like I was in the twilight zone. What the heck were these writers thinking? Just focus on a few things maybe from a few angles but don't confuse the audience with a zillion failed love stories and doomsday scenarios. The best way to describe it was a luxurious mess.
Would I recommend it? If you're a diehard Reba fan, then of course as she embodies Yunhe well and the cinematography is beyond stunning. But in general this is for people who like busy plots with lots of different characters all going in some direction from center. In any case, decide for yourselves.
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A visually beautiful drama
Completed - 5/3/2022 - 8.25"The Blue Whisper Part 1" is a visually stunning production with good CGI and a good-looking cast. It's a very pretty drama. We've seen many xianxia dramas in recent years that have a very toned down color palette with a lot of white and light colored costumes and scenery. However, this drama brings back the colors into the xianxia world. And it's really pretty to watch and makes you go ooh and ahh over the beautiful sceneries, costumes and CGI.
However, I have to say the plastic 6-pack torso that Allen Ren has is really distracting in a bad way. Pictures of that have circled around the internet and caused quite an uproar, and it's a totally justified uproar. I just can't ignore that. Luckily, this plastic torso retired after a couple episodes and what's left is Allen Ren's handsome face. I think he looks best visually in this drama. This wig fits him really well, with his hair down. And of course, the always beautiful Dilraba looks fantastic here as well.
Acting wise, both of our leads did a pretty good job. Disclaimer: I am NOT a big fan of Dilraba. She has been in similar roles before, the cute and outgoing girl that everyone loves. I can't say her acting is bad, but it meets my expectations. Disclaimer again: I AM a fan of Allen Ren. I love his expressive, big eyes. They speak to me and are able to show all his emotions, esp. in the first few episodes when he couldn't speak. You can see him change from the innocent Chang Yi to becoming the General of the North.
Plot wise, I do like the story of demon masters and their servant demons. At least, it's something different, and we don't have to deal with the three realms, as in other xianxia drama. However, that doesn't mean we could get away from the noble sacrifices of our characters, all in the name of love. I didn't check the tag, so I was not aware that 'misunderstanding' is one of them. Misunderstandings and noble sacrifices seem to go hand-in-hand quite a bit in xianxia dramas. The pacing of the drama is not bad. I did feel it slow down at Ep 9 or 10, but the story picked up in the last third of the drama. I do wish there are more fight scenes throughout the 22 episodes. I understand this is not a wuxia drama, so I wasn't expecting excellent fight choreography. There's just more talking than fancy fighting here.
The drama also has a few beautiful songs. They are not overplayed and not loud enough to drown out the dialogs. I think my favorite song is Zhou Chen's 鲛人之歌 (Mermaid's song).
At the end of Part 1, I have a somewhat lukewarm impression of this drama. It's not bad, but also not the best. Thus, I give it a 8.25 (B grade) rating. Just not enough to cross the 8.5 (B+) mark, based plainly on my personal enjoyment.
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Plot let it down
I am a fan of both Allen Ren and Dilraba so I was really looking forward to this show, especially after how long it ok to get English subtitles. I got to episode 27 before I gave up on the series (which is technically part 2).First the good things about the series.
1. As to be expected the two leads gave us some great acting, their skills as actors never let us down.
2. The costumes and sets on this show where amazing, someone had obviously put alot of love and effort into them.
3. The music was enjoyable although nothing spectacular it was still a definite positive.
4. The secondary and supporting actors where all good and the secondary couple defiantly had some good on screen chemistry.
This leads me to the big negative which ended up ruining the show for me. The plot!
By episode 27 they had used the 'will she die, wont she die' idea about 3 times in succession, which led to around 10 episodes of almost no character development for the main characters, either separately or together. It seemed like nothing at all was happening between them and then all of a sudden something would emerge about how much they loved each other..............despite the silly lies and hurts that could have so easily been avoided. I know this plot structure is used alot in dramas but after 10 episodes of it the show had just stagnated and I was bored, it needed to move on. This was nothing against the actors, it was purely the problem of the plot which was lazily written.
Also in the plot it seems to glance over a few things I personally would have thought was important. For example I can understand how someone as naïve as ChangYi would fall for Yunhe but it doesn't seem to cover why or how Yunhe falls for ChangYi..........feels sorry for him........yes.........sees her own love for freedom in him.........absoloutly.........sees him as her way of getting redemption.........yep............but love......its not clear.
I wish I could have watched the show to the end but I simply couldn't.
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Two heart throb as leads and an intriguing story to match
With two heart throb, Dilraba and Ren Jia Lun as lead acts, you can imagine how awaited this drama was. Not all dramas which employed high profile actors/actresses were necessarily well produced but this drama lives up to expectations. I had only completed Part 1 and am eagerly waiting for Part 2 to be released.Ji Yun He (Dilraba) was a powerful fairy living in the Floral Valley. Her job was to capture delinquent demigods and her biggest strength was the ability to win over the hearts of her captive delinquent demigods.
She and her rival adoptive brother Lin HaoQing were assigned to make a captured merman ChangYi (Ren Jia Lun) speak human words, discard his tail and grow legs, and hand over his ‘mer-pearl’ to demonstrate his loyalty by the cruel Prince Shunde. Shunde was sister to the Heaven Lord and disciple to a powerful wicked Deity who spoiled her for a hidden reason.
YunHe was often tortured by the master of Floral Valley and was told she was to rival her brother to toughen him up. She had been poisoned and controlled by the frost poison which caused a person to go through deep freezing when the antidote wore out. Although appearing to be her arch rival, HaoQing had actually fallen in love with her. While attempting to convert ChangYi, YunHe and ChangYi fell in love. YunHe was determined to help ChangYi and herself to gain their freedom.
Eventually they discovered who was really behind the frost poison and more mysteries unravelled. ChangYi turned from loving YunHe to hating her, partly due to HaoQing and largely due to YunHe keeping the truth from him. Would this couple have a future and would they be able to combat the evil forces lurking in the dark? You can watch the drama to figure out the rest as I do not want to release further spoilers.
What I like about this drama?
- The leads led me to watch this drama and they had excellent on-screen chemistry.
- An interesting story with a lot of twists and turns.
- The supporting cast was also very good. China has a lot of acting talents. As the second couple in the story, the cat deity courtship of his love one was very funny.
- Lovely back drop, beautiful scenery and cinematography.
- Special effects and gracefully fighting scenes.
- Beautiful costumes and interesting make-ups.
Chinese dramas typically do very well with the above.
What I do not like about this drama?
There is very little I do not like about this drama. But I must say it is always the same recurring themes which are rather strange and weird to me. I could not understand them and wonder whether it is a cultural thing. Story lines tend to be the weaknesses of Chinese dramas.
In this drama the theme was Yunhe pushing ChangYi away to save him and then hide her good intention from him. She could do this for the moment to quickly achieve what she wanted. But to keep it a secret later was unconceivable. It was a very awkward and unoriginal way to add suspense.
The same went for the nine-tail fox fairy mistress who played down her contribution on saving ChangYi. Don’t claim merits when they were not yours. But merits should be due when it is due.
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They actually kiss! (no fake kissing! FINALLY!)
I felt like this was the most anticipated drama of 2022, what an A list cast with epic budget, explosive CGI and impressive costumes.I 100% watched this drama because of Dilraba Dilmurat and Allen Ren and what can I say. The no kissing clause is no more! I know it's silly to mention this but it was very disappointing to see The Long Ballad with no kissing and Allen's 6 years of dramas with no kissing. To have the main leads actual kiss, really made a difference in my opinion.
I have mixed feelings on this drama. Overall, I enjoyed it and it's hard not to with the over the top CGI, beautiful costumes and impressive sets.
For me the drama is broken into 3 different arcs. I'm not sure if I favored one arc over another, but the drama does have the classic fantasy C drama vibes. You have the epic, melodramatic love and obstacles coming from all angles. The most gripe I have is the pacing of the show.
First off, I didn't like watching the first few minutes of the drama, because it gave us a flash forward of what happened to the couple (that doesn't even happen until midway), so throughout the entire first half of the drama I was wondering when the first few mins would be explained, I wished they left that part out.
I did like the first arc where the FL and ML met and the ML is very innocent and happy. I love the inner torment of the FL (and I know some complained about this) but I really enjoyed watching the FL struggle. I felt like it gave Dilraba depth of character.
The second arc I struggled the most because of the pacing. I felt like it felt forever to resolve the main issue that couple was going through. I enjoyed watching the secondary and third couple (although the butterfly was a bit too young for him, so it was a little creepy) but a hilarious storyline to watch.
I kind of wished the main couple didn't struggle as much and we got to enjoy more than the few episodes here and there of their "cutesy" moments. That's something I couldn't help compare to the Long Ballad, where I truly loved the pacing in that one.
By the time we get to the 3rd arc I was a little tired of the couple struggling and I was wondering when the resolved misunderstanding would happen because it's been dragged way out.
I feel like if you are a fan of the actors and love fantasy high budget C dramas, this one is worth watching. The sound track is pretty amazing and it's just an overall pretty drama to watch. But for me, it doesn't hold a candle to the classics.
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This review may contain spoilers
Highly Misunderstood for having bad chemistry
Instead of a fully comprehensive review, this is more like a review that addresses the most common issues that viewers have with the drama and my take on them.First and foremost though, I have to give a massive shout-out to the producers and singers of TBW's OST. This is objectively one of the most well-balanced OSTs released so far this year across Kdramas, J-Dramas, Thai, and C-dramas. Not only are the songs wonderful to listen to, but they also perfectly suit the theme and story of the drama, and all have that fantastical feel to them, which just enhances the fantasy aspect of the production. Kudos!!
Next, I want to address the production/budget/CGI. I must say that this drama has the best NINE-TAILED FOX animation that I have ever seen. Furthermore, given the looks of the costumes and original sets, this is clearly a high-budget production. My personal favorite CGI moments were the mermaid tail for Chang Yi, the nine tails for Yunhe, and the prison in which Ji Yunhe was imprisoned. There were some tiny parts of questionable CGI in a couple of episodes, but they were pretty forgettable considering the fact that I can't even pinpoint the episodes that had the aforementioned slightly poor editing/CGI.
Now for the concerns: One of the major complaints I have seen so far is that the two main leads have no chemistry. I completely agree to a certain extent. At the beginning of the drama, for the first 11 episodes or so, the two leads have no chemistry. However, it is important to keep in mind that this is because Ji Yunhe doesn't love Chang Yi as deeply yet. She is tricking him and a lot of her affection for him at that point is still a misguided sense of guilt. Unfortunately, our boy Chang Yi had already fallen deep for her by episode 4. It is clear as day that he likes her but she doesn't like him. Now imagine feigning chemistry with someone you dislike and have imprisoned? I, personally, would have no chemistry whatsoever. At this point, the show was a 6/10 for me. But as soon as YunHe was imprisoned, and Chang Yi had his personal growth arc, it was clear as day that they loved each other. This is when I realized why the main couple had no chemistry yet. It's because their love story lacked a very important thing: ANGST. However, as soon as the angst was introduced, this drama instantly jumped to an 8/10 for me. I enjoyed the arc where they pinned after each other but couldn't admit it. Ji Yunhe was being eaten away by guilt and her feeling of betrayal for pushing Chang Yi off the cliff. And Chang Yi too was heartbroken but hated the fact that he still loved her despite her "betrayal". NOW, THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO SEE HAHAHA. THE ANGST WAS GOOD. Though I do have to say it was slightly dragged out, but this is how the novel goes so can't help it. From episode 21 of season 1 to the end of the show in season 2 though, the chemistry is there. Especially when he gives her the Merman mark. This is show is slow burn not in the sense of how long it took the leads to fall in love madly, but in how long and arduous it is for them to get together given their star-crossed lovers status.
The next concern is how people argue that Lin Haoqing better suited Ji Yunhe. I have to disagree here. I am someone who frequently suffers from Second Lead Syndrome, but this time I wanted Lin Haoqing to intentionally not get the girl. I say this because while people argue that he did everything to keep her safe and protect her, the way he treated her still didn't sit well with me. You don't treat loved ones like that. Chang Yi loved Yunhe enough to cut his tail off for her, but LHQ didn't love YunHe enough to respect the fact that she wanted Chang Yi to keep his tail. LHQ manipulated the then innocently in love CY to cut off his tail despite Yunhe telling LHQ to stay away from CY. If I loved someone, the first thing I would do for them is learning to respect their wills and wishes, and not do as I pleased.
Lastly, people complain about Ren JiaLun's lack of character but that is also coming from a grossly misunderstood root. I have never watched him before, but he did Chang Yi justice. However, you couldn't really see the depth of his character until he was pushed off the cliff. This is important because it added another dimension to his character. Now he could not only love but also lie if need be. The last 10 episodes of season 2 perfectly highlight CY's development throughout the season. Heck, his character develops until the very last episode. He learns to trust Yunhe again and he lets her go. In fact, he entraps her in the volcano himself because she tells him that she will come to find him when the time is right and the demon dies. He accepts it, and that for me was a testament to how far his character had come.
So in conclusion, TBW is a drama that has a huge payoff, only if you have the patience to let its slow-burnesque trials and tribulations play out. It is a beautiful drama and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, my enjoyment was deeply enhanced by the fact that the OST fucking played at the perfect time every time. Chef's Kiss for sure!!
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Changyi is a merman who appears in the Valley, courtesy of the cruel Princess Shunde. Her Royal Highness commands Yun He to make the merman speak human words, grow human legs, and be loyal. But there is a catch! Yun He must enlist the aid of Lin Hao Qing, her adopted brother and sworn enemy. Keeping company with the merman has Yun He becoming closer to him. In time, she will have to make the fateful choice between the demon‘s freedom and her very own.
The chemistry between the lead actors is so good. They did justice to their characters. From displaying various emotions naturally. The costumes are so womderfully prepared and carried well by each cast. All the cast have done justice to their respective roles. Overall, the drama is a must watch.
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The beginning was very boring, especially the first episode. I think it’s better to start near the end of episode one where things start getting interesting. Really liked the show also pretty sad!
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This review may contain spoilers
It pulls you in, but doesn't always keep you there
This is my review of part 1 and 2 in its entirety, not the individual parts.While I enjoyed the beginning and the show kept me hooked til the end, I do think it missed on a few points.
First, the things I liked: I loved that Yun He was smart and powerful. Many of these shows make the female lead a person that gets herself into trouble but needs help getting out of it, normally by the male lead. Her intelligence, wisdom, and strength made her a fascinating and interesting character.
I also really liked Chang Yi. I felt that his character was very realistically portrayed and he, too, was a powerful, intelligent being. It's rare to find a show that is willing to make the male lead naive and sweet, and it was nice to watch.
Many reviews state the lack of chemistry between the main leads, but I would disagree. I actually felt it to be pretty solid. Not mind-blowing, but good.
As for Hao Qing, it was interesting to see him basically similar to his father (minus the manipulation) towards the end. He was also in a wheelchair, and his attendant was also in love with him. Not sure if I liked his somewhat bittersweet ending, but it wasn't too bad.
The world-building was well done, and while the CGI wasn't always great, I've seen worse!
Our main leads' ending was left open ended, but I felt satisfied.
Now onto the things I didn't like as much.
I honestly disliked how this show treated Shunde. I'm not saying what Shunde was good, in fact I very much hated her, but compared to the other bad guys she felt more two-dimensional. While the other big bad guys got redemption arcs (Lin Cang Lan not being truly evil, he just so happened to be forced into the situation; Ning Qing ultimately sacrificing himself to atone for his sins), she did not. And yes, while we did get some other powerful, good women in this show, the fact that the only evil woman was treated differently than the two other (significant) male antagonists was a bit questionable.
I also really disliked Luo Luo. A lot. I am not a fan of the ditzy, silly best friend who means well but because she can't read the room ends up causing the main leads more trouble. Shows always want to portray this type of character as cute but I just find it immensely annoying. Not to mention the really frustrating "pretty-fication". At the start, she was supposed to be not very attractive (she has freckles and slightly darker skin; apparently this is considered unattractive) but then she finds love and magically loses her freckles and gets lighter skin. Not only am I so tired of the casual racism this trope implies, but also the message that you can't be average-looking to find love.
Overall, a fun watch, but I did occasionally have to use the fast forward button to get past drawn-out parts (or parts featuring Luo Luo).
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