This review may contain spoilers
The ML as the Demon King stole my heart! Everything else was…
…a mixed bag that luckily didn’t rush the ending. How he came back to life, it is up to us to imagine but at least it gave some happy vibes in the end.Nothing new here. Common tropes. Average acting though the ML looked very cool as the Demon King and the FL’s acting is better here that in her previous dramas. Costumes were hit and miss where some were gorgeous and ethereal and others look plasticky. Some of the FL’s super big hairdo had me in stitches especially when she was running.
I wasn’t expecting much so I was pleasantly surprised that the drama managed to give me something to look forward in episode 32-33 unlike the past few dramas I watched that quickly went downhill in the second half. However, the final confrontation was a let down and the villain had some of the stupidest lines I’ve ever heard when he tried to justify what he did.
Random note: only watched this as I have a 1-month iQIYI subscription. Unfortunately, when casting to my tv, it only allowed it at 480p so while the resolution was decent most of the times, it was horrible during the parts with CGI and everything looked very grainy. I’m not techie enough to understand if there is a way to cast a higher resolution to my tv that is not Apple TV so I will not be extending my subscription.
Was this review helpful to you?
The best cdrama
I love it so much and am hoping for those two to make an another cdrama again like historical that has a happy ending. I love the ending how he remembers her and so does she. I really wanted them to end up in heaven in stead of earth. This is apparently the CDRAMA I was looking for. Ding yuxi fit the role and he’s perfectly good for any role. Hope ding yuxi keep on acting and be healthy. I love it so much and am hoping for those two to make an another cdrama again like historical that has a happy ending. I love the ending how he remembers her and so does she. I really wanted them to end up in heaven in stead of earth. This is apparently the CDRAMA I was looking for. Ding yuxi fit the role and he’s perfectly good for any role. Hope ding yuxi keep on acting and be healthy.Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Our love was a red thread knotted into 7 lives...
I will write this review in parts. At the end, there will be a general review.If I were to talk about this story in my own words first..."Your destiny was a red thread tied to my destiny with love. No matter what, our love found its way to our hearts thanks to this thread. No matter how many lives we lived, my love was big enough for me to sacrifice everything for it. If it weren't for jealous looks and ambitions, the whole universe would breathe in the presence of our love. But fate It took our in its clutches and it took me 7 lifetimes to find you. I forgot you. But my heart always knew the way to you. I found you again with love."
STORY 9.5/10
The story based on the novel was good overall. Even though it has many differences from the novel, I liked the fiction when viewed as a series. The novel dealt with these issues from a slightly more superficial perspective. It would remain a bit simple as a series. But I liked the differentiated story in the drama. Even though I found some parts a bit too exaggerated, it satisfied me in general.
ACTİNG/ CAST 9.5/10
Just like you all thought before the start of the series, I too had concerns about FL's acting before . The reason for this was that I thought it could not reflect the general atmosphere and acting of its previous series well. But FL showed that he has really improved himself in this series. It was obvious while watching that he integrated with the character. Their harmony with ML was also reflected in the general atmosphere of the series and offered us an enjoyable viewing pleasure.
Other characters besides FL and ML weren't bad overall either. I'm especially glad they cast a different actor as the emperor. Although I have question marks in my mind about SML, liked it.
CGI/MUSİC 9.5/10
The CGI was beautiful. I loved everything, the scenes, the colors, the atmosphere. The music was generally good. But there was no music that connected to the stage enough to say wow.
OVERALLY 9.5/10
A great love story that is broken into 7 fates because of jealousy.
I can say that every life was fun. I had fun in animal lives as well as in devil lives. But my favorite life was the CH and CK one. I loved that naughty empress. The story progressed well without losing its dynamic.
The part where I broke my points was the end. I wanted to see a little more of their happiness. I would love to watch that heavenly marriage and children in the book. That's why I deducted half a point.
But overall, it's a sweet story that won't disappoint those who love drama xianxia and romance.
If you read this review and decided to start the drama, thank you. And enjoy watching...
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Who came first- the hen or the egg?
Let me start off by saying that i had put this drama on hold at ep 8. I was so mad at the screenwriter because the novel is one of my favorites because of how simple and enjoyable it was and they made a mess out of it here. The drama starts off slow and pretty annoying too. But, after finishing the full drama, i have to say it, they did a commendable job at modifying the novel. It gets better slowly as the conspiracy unfolds and everything happening also rounds up in the end. So here i will give some comparisons of the drama and novel and my own views on the drama.Characters and Story: the original novel was rather simple. Xiao Xiangzi was a simple cloud, not an empress of heaven who was wronged and killed in her previous life, Chu Kong was a celestial star, not a god of war or heavenly prince. They crossed each other and as petty people they fought with each other and got punished by the emperor into undergoing 7 lives of love tribulation as punishment. The villain was Jin Lian, a dark practitioner and former master of Chu Kong, not a loyal subordinate of the empress in pursuit of justice for his clan and his queen, who killed his sister Jin Luo, while trying to take away her lover Zihui's stone heart to increase his powers. There weren't anymore significant characters in the novel.
Onto the drama, Prince Xiuming is one character that i grew to love even though initially i disliked him. He is our classic 2ml, in love with our fl, ready to do everything for her, and could've been made into a villain very easily, but he wasn't thankfully. Jin Lian unlike in the novel, wasn't villain here although he seems to be one at the start. Jin Luo and Zihui's story was totally different here, and both of them can be said to be good characters here. Luckily they got an open happy ending too unlike in the novel where Jin Luo slowly faded into the void after Zihui died and forgot her after his rebirth. Now, the cliche plot of evil heavenly emperor also applies here, the brother of Chu Kong, Hao Xuan is the supreme villain, except he didn't fit the every villain has his own sad story category. He was simply evil, jealous and greedy.
So why did i put the drama on hold? In the novel, the first life was about Lu Changkong and Song Xiangyun, a particularly touching arc. However, they messed it up real bad and threw in a love triangle and made it into a cliche political drama story. Not only that, this life was made the 2nd life in the drama. The first life in the drama was them in animal forms which was the 3rd life in the novel during which they started uncovering the conspiracy of Jin Lian. This was enough for me to give up. Later i restarted it again. But in the drama, it felt like these small mortal life arcs weren't given much importance. They were simply tools to make the adaptation. So these mortal arcs lacked depth to me. In the drama, the 3rd life brought out something good which was the brotherhood between Zihui and Jin Lian. The next life was another insignificant one in which they swapped bodies but found a clue to the existence of a darker conspiracy. After finishing it i realized that much more focus was placed on giving each and every character a back story, the past life of the main leads and the great conspiracy and uncovering it. This way, a rather simple novel was made into something deeper and more complicated story. Initially it seems that the story and plot is all over the place but this one has to be one of the most tied up plots. It barely left any loose ends since every piece falls back right into place by the last episode. Yet something it failed to do in the whole process of complicating the storyline is capturing my emotions. Too much happened in too little time, everything made sense, but somehow failed to bring out my feelings.
If so, why such a title to my review? Their love transcends time and space. The screenwriter managed to put in a time travel arc as the 5th life where the main leads go back 30000 years ago to investigate the truth and XXZ is born as Cang Hai, her past life. So my question lies in the fact about who fell in love first and why- was it Chu Kong with Xiao Xiangzi in present time while undergoing the tribulations, or was it Cang Hai and Chu Kong 30000 years ago which was XXZ and CK after time travelling and forgetting their own identities, but the red thread still tying them? So that's a question i can never answer. Well even XXZ failed to find an answer to it.
The tiny details were paid pretty good attention to. The hairpin, the pig and tiger, cloud reference, the same parents in every life who were once matched by XXZ, were subtle details.
The best part is the happy ending for everyone. For the main leads, it was an unsatisfactory last minute ending but clearly it was happy since he didn't forget her.
Friendship, teamwork, partnership and open communication was the best aspect of the relationship between the main leads, something which is never seen in xianxia dramas. That made their devotion and sincere love for each other even more precious. They were really one in mind and heart, not just in terms of love.
Production and Casting: I have seem YCY in many dramas and must say that she has improved greatly. Although the first few episodes was a bit difficult to watch and part of it was because of her acting, as it progressed, it became way better. In the 2nd life arc her acting and makeup was particularly unbearable. But anywhere before and after that, she did it very very well. It was my 2nd time watching Ryan Ding after the romance of tiger and rose, and he did his job well. Their chemistry felt natural. The actor playing Jin lian was too good, he had 3 roles which were totally different from each other and he nailed them. The actors playing Zihui and Xiuming were great in their part. Edward Zhang as usual played the villain well, the calm and collected backstabbing hypocritical evil guy.
Same color pallettes were used for every character, like CH had shades of red, XXZ had whites and purples everytime, XM had whites and greens, CK had blues, HX had goldens, ZH had violets. The cgi looked pretty too, but sometimes not quite convincing but it was okay, nothing to complain about. Now about music, the osts had really beautiful and touching lyrics, not just poetic, but simple and meaningful, as i conceived from their english translations.
I would definitely suggest watching this one. If i ever get time again, i might come back to rewatch it again.
Was this review helpful to you?
Great Chemistry from the lead couple!
The most important thing for me when watching drama is the first episode. If I can't stop to continue it, it means that the drama is interesting. That happened to me when I watch this drama. After finished the first episode, I directly continue it. I mean I can't stop to watch it unless it bed time already. (I'm not a type of no sleep because watching drama).The actor, Ding Yu Xi, the acting was good. He is so good in every costume he used. As god, Lu Changkong, Sect Head, Chukong, I like it all. He was so authoritative.
The actress, Yang Chao Yue, I found her very beautiful in here, her acting was good also, she could build a great chemistry with Ding Yu Xi, that is the most important thing.
This drama was so beautiful, the costume, the CGI, I do not like wuxia drama at all, but I found this drama was interesting. I really like it. The costume was so beautiful and good! The story also good. there is nothing to say except I recomend to watch this drama if you want to find another drama with different genre.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This is a rant review
The filters and setting are quite similar to many recent xianxias. There are more diversity in unique concepts such as the demon king story arc.One thing i find unsettling is the lack of fleshed out characters. Everyone had a character setting that regulated their screen time and personality to. For example the red string master, heavenly emperor, Chu Kong, and almost the rest of the characters.
The red string master had no background and only in times of need or necessary attendence, he'd be gone. His role was somewhat significant but there were a lack of story in his character. For example, his place of origin.
The heavenly emperor had a one-track mind and never changed goals. Not a single women around him and he's never thought to reflect upon himself. Considering his rather long age, he should have gotten a more complicated mind rather than that one motto: I want to be strong.
Even with that motto, what event would have changed his mindset so drastically while growing up.
Chu Kong is a wild card. His personality is never set in stone but we can see how much of a softie he is after the second tribulation. Playing with his cold persona doesnt last very long because he is then molded to becoming a henpecked partner. No females to bother him since he's such an attractive single bachelor also with a high status.
Cang Hai aka Xiang Yun are pretty different. Xiang Yun is cheeky and full of smiles however Cang Hai is more modest and dignified due to her upbringing. The way the actress protrayed the two really shows just how well she carved the character details. I'd say they did a great job with her characterization.
I also want to rant about how they didn’t need to really get Cang Hai's dormant power to take down Hao Xuan, the heavenly emperor.
The scene of Chu Kong and Hao Xuan battling allowed me to see their power. Although I'm not sure if Hao xuan was weak due to the demon-devouring array or being inside the forest.
Although it did end with Hao Xuan falling into the void the same way Cang Hai fell into the void.
I really enjoyed the bgm and costumes. It was really amazing how everything collectively came together and formed this story.
Was this review helpful to you?
A very good Xianxia with a Ding Yu Xi in one of his best roles
A wuxia series for which I had a lot of trouble immersing myself into because of the resolutely Comedic tone of the 1st episodes and because I don't like the FL at all (nor the actress with her frozen doll face + her mouth, without expression, nor the character)...PLOT:
A little immortal from the Marriage Pavilion is accidentally drawn into a series of 7 love tribulations (in the mortal realm) with the God of War who wants to restore his spiritual Energy, damaged in the past. During these tribulations, they will encounter love rivals, villains, demons thirsting for vengeance, many plots, etc.
Despite my initial reluctance, I let myself get caught up in the plot during the 2nd tribulation (from episodes 8-9?).
+ Story very well written, intelligent, with clues scattered little by little and excellent actors (Ding Yu Xi is, as always, remarkable as ML).
+ Lots of excellent actors who bring their characters to life (well developed).
+ I like the way the director represented the celestial kingdom, very aestheticly pleasing, with great CGI. The production is dynamic, without length, and keeps the viewer in suspense.
+ the OSTs are well suited, without being memorable, but they accompany the action well.
BUT
- Some characters (such as the eldest Red Thread from Marriage Pavilion, in particular) are caricatures. They're probably there to add a touch of humor, but it doesn't work, they're just annoying!
=> A very good Xianxia, of quality, which maintains the suspense well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Série Wuxia dans laquelle j'ai eu beaucoup de mal à m'immerger à cause du ton est résolument Comedy des 1ers épisodes et parce que je n'aime pas du tout la FL (ni l'actrice avec son visage figé de poupée + bouche en coeur, sans expression, ni le personnage)...
PLOT :
Une petite immortelle du Marriage Pavilion est entrainée par accident dans une série de 7 love tribulations (au royaume mortel) avec le Dieu de la Guerre qui veut restaurer son Énergie spirituelle, abimée dans le passé. Lors de ces tribulations, ils vont rencontrer des rivaux amoureux, des evils, des démons assoiffés de vengeance, etc.
Malgré mes réticences initiales, je me suis laissée prendre par l'intrigue durant la 2nde tribulation (à partir de l'épisode 8-9 ?).
+ Story très bien écrite, intelligente, avec des indices disséminés peu à peu et d'excellents acteurs (Ding Yu Xi est, comme toujours, remarquable en ML).
+ Beaucoup d'excellents acteurs qui donnent vie à leur personnage (bien développés).
+ j'aime la façon dont le réalisateur a représenté le royaume céleste, très esthétique, avec de super CGI. La réalisation est dynamique, sans longueur, et tient le spectateur en haleine.
+ les OST sont bien adaptés, sans être mémorables, mais ils accompagnent bien l'action.
MAIS
- certains personnages (tels que le vieil ainé Red Thread du Marriage Pavilion, notamment) sont caricaturaux. Ils sont sans doute là pour donner une touche d'humour, mais ça ne fonctionne pas, ils sont juste agaçants !
=> Un très bon Wuxia, de qualité, qui maintient le suspense.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Why I think is 5 star
I find the show is a five-star because I find some episodes funny. I really enjoy watching their first love tribulations can be traced back to 30,000 years ago! The storylines from the beginning to the end are good. I really like the six characters in the show. I don't like Xiu Ming and Haoxuan. I understand why few people don't like Xiu Ming. I just don't like him in the tribulations even trying to get revenge against Chu Kong. it seems like Xiu Ming has been going through a lot even since 30,000 years ago. After Xiu Ming understood Chu Kong, my feelings of not liking Xiu Ming changed. I was watching Haoxuan with that electric lightning wand makes me hot boiling. I just wish he was hit by it as well! Even though he hurt and killed many people which is unforgivable. His crimes which he didn't admit but blamed on someone else who is evil but he doesn't realize he didn't do anything wrong in the six realms. Haoxuan changed when Chu Kong had a desirable future with someone he cared for and loved 30,000 years ago. The ending of the beginning was sad. It was sad when Chu Kong gave Xiang Yun his messages with he told her to live well, take a good look at the world for him, and maybe one day they will meet again, and he called her his dear wife which was touching and made me sad. The ending was a happy ending!ALL full episodes of Love You Seven Times Chinese Drama Show with English Subtitles are free found on the IQIYI website. I will warn you that there are ads if you aren't logged in or a VIP!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Love the outifts, the characters, and the concept.
While both Ding Yu X and Yang Chao Yue played all their characters to the T, Ding Yu X is a pro. They both also looked great in all the life times they shared together. Except for Chu Kong's standoffishness after the couple's first love tribulation together, he was pretty decent to the FL. They also had good chemistry.We got to see so much of their lives as Lu Chang Kong & Song Xiang Yun that I had hoped, we could have gotten more details about the other life times as well. The ending was also too rushed and just not enough closure for us who sat through all these lifetimes.
Except for the first tribulation where Xiu Ming practically engineered their sad fates, his characters mellowed down and didn't do much damage. There was too much wasted potential there.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Seven Lives, Same Love
Imagine living seven times, falling in love with the same person each time, and then one of them dying EACH TIME.The OST was a-mazing, but why is it every cdrama a character gets hurt they cough up blood one time like…?
I enjoyed this. Some of the lives were just too long such as the second one, but I loved the animal life, the last one… I think I enjoyed it more when there was fewer episodes during their tribulations.
Also, I loved their friendships. I’m glad Zihui is okay and I would love a side story based off these characters with everybody making an appearance. And you can tell Chukong loves Cang Hai so much. I love his character. And he’s FINE- he almost looks like the spitting image as Neo Hu who played Tianyo in Back from the Brink.
Was this review helpful to you?
An enjoyable watch, but not primarily because of the story
This series does offer a lot of romantic plotlines one can gush to, but the writing is one of its weaker points, often feeling like it's being written as the story plays out, trying to revise and connect certain points with some success. While it's nice to see how Chu Kong and Xiangyun's fates echo across every lifetime through details such as crabapple flowers, the Xun musical instrument, red threads and marriage temples, the whole thing doesn't feel as solid as I would have liked, with some arcs and details feeling like afterthoughts (*cough* Zihui, Ming Yue *cough*), but it's better than most dramas I've watched in terms of pacing. It didn't drag on too much, and so heightens its rewatchability. The balance of tragedy, romance, and lighthearted fun is also done well. I would like to highlight the animal arc: it had me laughing so much, but it's also really sweet that the tiger and the boar became one of their motifs throughout the series.The acting, production, and music definitely carried the drama to a new height. For acting: Ding Yuxi in particular is all kinds of excellent in every role-- mischievous being, cold immortal, tragic hero, further magnified by his breathtaking costuming and styling (convinced that the stylists love him a lot). He's meticulous in his body language and expressions, especially as the cat demon. Props also to Yang Chaoye (Xiangyun/Cang Hai etc.); she looks so cute but she's also able to act out 'powerful empress'/'demonic-aura princess', as well as capture the mannerisms of Chu Kong in the body-swap arc. She's a dynamic actress who manages to match and complement Ding Yuxi. In general, the main cast are actually so good in playing different roles in a single drama, they worked hard! (Shout-out to the Qianren and Qian Mou brotherhood in the Shengling Sect arc.)
For production: I have so much love for the costume designers and hair and make-up artists, and I hope they got paid really, really well for this series, because they have made a work of art in every outfit and look. I'm pretty sure they asked themselves, "How do I make this character the prettiest character ever" and just went absolutely wild. My absolute favorites are: Chu Kong and Xiangyun's demon looks (this is a given, iconic really), Chu Kong's General outfits in the body-swap/Princess and General arc as well as his God of War outfits (the pieces of armor fused with flowing fabric, the color layering, the gold qilin details, wow), Jin Luo's witch-doctor outfit (she's so pretty....), and every version of Xiangyun's eye make-up throughout the series. As for the special effects and set designs, while some of it are a bit awkward, grade A for setting the right ambiance and providing a feast for the eyes.
The soundtrack is absolutely lovely as well. In particular, Faye's "Love Only" must have been played more than 40 times (in the title credits and in the drama itself), but it gives me goosebumps every single time.
Overall, Love You Seven Times is a decadent work, a story that's a bit weak in the knees but helped up by a good cast and amazing production. It's able to give laughter and heartache, and so much beauty.
Was this review helpful to you?
