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The good parts were great the bad parts dragged
For me the 1st part and last part were the best, they both made me fall in love with our wonderful leads. Sima Jiao is the best and softest lover boy and Tingyan is so relatable and so devoted too. The whole demon realm arc felt like it contained several repeated plot points.Sima Jiao almost died so many times that I wasn't really affected by all the close calls, it ruined my emotional investment in the drama. I was so sure that no one is ever gonna die because they kept being revived that the stakes never felt like they mattered, I feel robbed of a good cry.
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Momentum fades...
The show started really strong—even if the plot wasn’t entirely new, it was solid, and I appreciated that the FL didn’t “lose” her character after being transmigrated into another world. I also liked that they didn’t dwell too much on the transition from a master‑disciple relationship to romance (you know how one character usually gets stuck in an annoying denial phase, refusing to accept the budding romance and acting meaner to divert).I appreciate that they didn’t shy away from intimacy, but the introduction of dual cultivation felt lacking and unpolished. Since I haven’t read the novel, I had to look up what the heck FL was doing on the unconscious ML’s body—while in their soul manor, they were also being intimate. I don’t mind intimacy, but I wish it had been given more context and grace. Perhaps censorship played a role, but there must have been a better way to introduce it. The way it wasn't properly set up felt off and honestly gave me the ick.
Initially, I liked the FL’s acting, but as her character went through different phases, I wished she had conveyed more varied expressions instead of relying mostly on wide eyes to signal emotional disruption. The ML’s acting, on the other hand, was strong. He was meant to portray a calm, tsundere demeanor, and he did so without exaggeration.
Overall, the plot began with promise but eventually dragged. There were numerous plot holes, and secondary characters weren’t given enough space. The latter part felt rushed and unrealistic, and the urgency to wrap things up was palpable. By the time I reached episode 30, I found myself fast‑forwarding through most of it.
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Arthur Chen great acting! Wang Ying Lu great acting!
What do i like about this drama? The Acting, especially at the beginning.The Story is in the Romance Sector, but in everything else is also rounded up.
Not only with the main characters but also with the other roles as well.
Wuxia check. Demon VS Immortals check. Beeing lazy as a Fish check. Eating delicious Stuff check.
Clan Intrigue check. Palace intrigue check. And even with all that in the Mix the pacing is still very good.
For instance in other dramas you would have like these filler episodes between episode 10 - 24 or so.
At least for me here it wasn't like that at all.
And while it doesn't show explicit scenes, it isn't reserved either.
Like waiting 20 episodes just to hold hands, this drama isn't like this at all.
Also for me it made sense when they had warm interaction and when it turned very cold.
Thank you for making this great drama!
(And it's good seeing Arthur Chen again, after every night, really great acting there as well)
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A very strong ROMCOM in Xianxia after a while
I think every drama needs something that pulls you in. Most of the time, it is a plot or some fancy effects or fighting, but for this series: it's a strong ML & FL character setup, it's their individual character development and their relationship development. The chemistry is over the roof that at some points, I forget and forgive the series for everything else. It is truly an enjoyable Romcom.ML: very solid. He is charming, OP and intelligent, has both IQ & EQ, he is loyal, once he falls, he falls hard, and he has a dark humor at times.
FL: a refreshing character who just likes to be lazy and enjoy lifes. She is relatable; she is cute and she is funny.
The dialogue is full of humor, yet touching at times. Both ML & FL deliver relatively great acting.
Their relationship is developed so well that you can see and FEEL how they fall in love and how deeply in love they are with each other. Best communication skills between a couple that I've seen in a while. Intimacy scenes are uncountable and beautifully done. Dual cultivation? Finally, we know what it means XD.
The storylines are a bump at times related to pacing; it feels like they try to achieve a bit too much within their frame of 33 episodes. But at the same time, out of this flawed plot, they deliver many refreshing viewpoints and challenge many typical storylines that we frequently see in xianxia like the idea a modern girl getting to xianxia world and can suddenly turning into a badass killing machine, or how easily one can be misled easily when they lose their memories. At times, the story resolves things a bit rush but at the same time, they deliver some very logical plots with IQ.
Overall, this is probably the best rom-com I've seen this year or even in recent years. Hope to see the cast in future projects.
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FML quirky, but useless. while ML does everything.
I stopped watching this series because frankly I really thought that FML Tingyao would eventually be worthy as a partner for Sima Jiao. Instead, Tingyao ends up being the dum dum character that breaks everything down for the audience and while that character IS needed, it should not be the main character. Sima Jiao constantly bails her out of her poison, her memory loss, her thunder trials, etc. the plot was also not communicated well (ie she forgot her identity as Tingyao but remembered she’s transmigrated? Ontop of forgetting her Frost Fish identity? The orange peel they call a mask - who approved of this?! I dont get it.) The plot can be interesting at times but it did feel like a lot of the story is only moving because it’s the plot. It wouldnt make sense wen you actually pause and think about it. There is some cute romance and beautiful shots but I genuinely had to stop watching. I stopped ep 23. I would recommend watching this if… you’re into ML suffering everything for FML who also doesn’t have much of character or role in the story, from what I saw.Was this review helpful to you?
Made want to fall in love
I can't belive it is over. The whole TV show was more than an experience, it was was everything. If you look it carefully, you'll still find me here: a huge piece of my heart, brain and soul. It's been ages since a couple got my attention like this, and made this obsessed, daydreaming like crazy.Liao Tingyan and Jiao Jiao had me dancing and giggling in my room almost every scenes. It was unpretentious but still so heartwarming and fun. Their chemistry was so insane that I got blushing at the bts and promo videos as if I were a teenager.
I cannot keep myself from wondering what it would've been like if we had the full 40 episodes and no censorship.
Hope we get to see more of Feiyu and Yinglu, whether it's an extra or another drama.
What an adventure ❤️
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Dropped at 19, story not worth the hype
I dont get it why this drama get above 8.5 ratings?? I mean, the story or plot isnt that great, it's a mess with no backstory suddenly the fl entered the other world? Like why would she trapped there? Who is the original tingyan( ik shes from demonic realm but what is her relation? ) What is the factor the FL end up get into the ori tingyan? And then, she was just got into the realm, but the character didnt show any awkwardness to adapt, like how she can continue her life as usual, not complaining to go back?Then the story progress, okay la i keep on watching coz at this time is quite entertaining. Got to know the backstory of sima jiao and his revenge, then the 2 leads got in loves. The chemistry between the leads is okay (but not that gr8) , romance part is okay, and i think that part is the only that save this drama coz plenty of kiss scene and intimate scene. However, I watched this with frustation towards the characters of tingyan and the snake, they are so stupid. The snake: I imagine the character to be bold, ruthless and smart as he is the companion/ disciple of sima jiao, should be he is the one who is more protective to him, but instead he seek for another master?? The one who want to kill ur master on top of that??! Like u have been accompanying ur master for like hundred yrs, but cannot sense danger, not cautios towards ppl around him aiya wth (i tot he should be like buqio, ji bozai companion in LITC)
And the FL why la she not smart at all??? Like i got it u are pure, innocent, not exposed to killing/ruthless activity, but u are in another world rn where the ppl are all aiming to kill u women! At least learn how to defend urself, and not make trouble for the ML to save u while he is in the middle to achieve his plan.
#And i donno la maybe i watch this with my bias towards LnP, cause every bit of arthur chen's acting here remind me of lixun 😭, like his cold, his smirk, his smile, his gaze ahhh i can't.....
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Babygirl just wanna snack and relax but ends up becoming immortal demon empress.
Lemme preface this by saying, I'm super biased. I don't think that this drama as a whole is amazing (esp the later half), but it gives me good vibes and I adore the main couple.This drama!! This is sunshine x grumpy done right. This is mutual pining with dewy-glistening-yearning eyes. This is so so tender and very very juicy. This is three lifetimes of love—and I'm going to need a sequel of their fourth life in a modern drama.
For a great romance, we need great leads with great chemistry. Sima Jiao and Tingyan said hold my beer and gave us great characters to root for.
Chen Feiyu's Sima Jiao is menacing, broody and ferocious. But he's also gentle and thoughtful when he wants. Feiyu gives this character so much dimension in how he overthinks, how he shows vulnerability and the way he warms up to Tingyan.
Wang Yinglu's Liao Tingyan is our sunshine slacker who is coincidentally the demon in this relationship (not that she knows that at first). She is an unbothered queen with priorities to sleep, eat and relax. She easily the best character and the life of this drama and hella relatable. Wang Yinglu was amazing with this performance; she played Tingyan with so much heart and carefree whimsy. It's so easy to fall in love with this character. (Unrelated: I don't know how to say this without sounding creepy but I love Want Yinglu's teeth LMAO. She has front bunny teeth but also fangs on the side? I love it when she smiles with her mouth wide open. I find it so charming lol.)
The romance is easily 10/10. The rest? Ehh, not anything to write home about to be honest.
The plot, while mostly engaging, really plays second fiddle to the romance. It's got uneven pacing and sometimes irrelevant storylines, but it always comes back to the main romance.
While I found most of the plot uninspired, the one trope that stood out for me how they used different lifetimes to explore the romance and relationship between our leads.
Minor spoilers ahead!
In the first lifetime, they are strangers who fall in love slowly, the tension and humour hit perfectly. The second lifetime, when only Sima Jiao remembers, you can feel his desperation and yearning while holding himself back to give her room to process. The third lifetime, when only Tingyan remembers, she's flirty and fiercely protective. It's a beautiful reversal of their first and second life; it's her turn to being the powerful one. Tingyan teasing Sima Jiao is so so so endearing.
I don't think the amnesia trope in the second lifetime is done all that well but overall I really enjoyed what they did with it. Revisiting the same relationship while the characters are in different periods of their life and love is a really fun and interesting story.
TLDR;
plot: didn't really care tbh/10
romance: 33/10
acting: 9/10
fights: it's a xianxia/10
PS if you really liked the kisses, you have to check out the behind the scenes. They are EATING
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A Must Watch But....
What happened to this year?? SERIOUSLY best xianxia and drama month by month a must watch .I am not a fan of Chen but this drama is the best and FL done her character perfectly..best CGi
I started episode 1 I wonder how I end up in 9-10 plot keep interesting somewhat similar to love between fairy and devil( dragon-snake, hell flame -spirit fire 70k something yrs-500yrs)
Okk....I just want to know why xianxia writers always want a weak, clingy,dumb FL??? Instead of powerful or atleast normal?? As per the formula of xianxia dramas WDBTD also have Immortal -demon relationship, reincarnation, amnesia but that's not a problem after 27-28 episodes the story not moving remains the same ML repeatedly dying, rebirth, at some point I lost all my emotions and unable to carryon because I know what will the next , FL have 3 identity which I got bored but when she had amnesia she still trust him and didn't hurt his feelings when she forgot him completely.
(This is my opinion don't mind me)
I know if we want to watch xianxia should not expect logic and lock your brains if you are a fan of Chen this is a best wonderful drama for you.
Happy watching
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What A Gem!
Someone tell me, How does one even start to review a masterpiece?!!! This drama is such a gem among the many dramas of the year. Everything in it deserves a chef's kiss.The synopsis doesn't do justice to the fully immersive world that this drama creates. The world building is just on another level. The plot armor was solid from the start to the end. It is so wholesome that you would have to be very picky to notice anything amiss. I just loved how they fleshed out all the characters, villains and heroes alike. Everyone's story was so seamlessly organic for a fictional world in a transmigration trope. I enjoyed how much thought they put in the villains and the ends they all met such that by the end of the drama all loose ends are tied up nicely. Some parts of the story seemed repetitive, but considering the major villains weren't changing, you can't possibly expect anything new out of their plotting to get SJ's blood. Even the ML said so himself!
The growth of the main characters was also organic and very refreshing to watch. The FL stayed true to her true character from having lived in the modern world and true to her word, just takes it as a vacation from her everyday life - a true salted fish. The fact that she doesn't need to change who she is for other people and doesn't impose her ideologies on other people who couldn't relate to her thought process was a plus in my books. She instead communicates her thoughts and lets other people decide for themselves what to do. This worked perfectly with the ML's setting, bringing warmth and the drive to evolve from his desolate life.
The romance... Oh! The romance! It was just so beautifully delivered. The skinship! The palyfulness! Chef's kiss - Mwaah! It was so simple, so beautiful, so deep, so pure and so refreshing. There were no messy love triangles, and unnecesary misunderstandings to make the romance murky, and it was such a good call from the directors/producers. The plotting was left to the villains and counterattacks. They have just proved that open communication can make such a drama even more romantic than the usual angst or push and pull you would expect. It makes you fall in love with the bubble it creates around them that other people can't penetrate.
Overall, the drama is amazing, an absolute must watch! We absolutely deserve a filler episode of the main couple in the modern world, but the ending is acceptable.
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A beautifully captured fantasy romance
Okay, they did this one really well. The acting and the chemistry between the ML and FL are top-notch. There is great character development for both of them, and it’s unforced, natural, and makes sense within the story. The story is slow-paced at times and sometimes more focused on romance than the plot, but I personally didn’t mind. There are lots of kissing and heated scenes (which is not very common in C-dramas), and as I said before, the chemistry works really well, so it’s beautiful to watch.They did a great job with the cast. It was my first time seeing Wang Ying Lu, and because of her excellent acting, the FL is relatable and someone to cheer for. Even though she starts out somewhat like a damsel in distress, she isn’t hopeless or annoying. As for Arthur Chen, I liked this actor before thanks to Ever Night and Princess and Lighter (both of which I can recommend, though it’s a pity that in Ever Night 2 the ML wasn’t played by him but by Dylan Wang—even though I like the actor, I think Arthur Chen captured the role better). So I already knew his acting, and this role was clearly tailored for him. He makes you believe that he falls for the girl—in fact you believe every emotion he shows.
There are, let’s say, two main antagonists. The first one is really great; I disliked him very much (which is exactly what you want from a villain). The second one, however, didn’t have the same effect on me—maybe the evil wasn’t personal enough.
The scenery was beautiful. Yes, in some parts the CGI wasn’t terrific, but most of the time it was quite good. The music also works fantastically with the story and its themes.
And I’ll definitely watch it again!
Spoilers!
Where they could have done better is that there were a few scenes which I assume were meant to be heartbreaking and bring you to tears, but that didn’t happen for me. I think there wasn’t enough desperation in those moments to really push me over the edge. I don’t think this was because of the acting, but rather the script, where they could have prolonged those scenes a little longer before giving the audience hope.
The ending is little bit predictible and they also could have made the ending a bit longer. It’s somewhat ambiguous whether it’s just her recognizing him or if he recognizes her as well—but I choose to believe that he did recognize her too.
So even with these few setbacks, overall this has become one of my favorite fantasy/wuxia C-dramas. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did! =)
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Fantastic drama
one of the best wuxia drama I’ve watched. The chemistry between the lead couple is indeed palpable. The story is great and well acted by the cast specially the main couple. Such a fun interpretation of Reincarnation and time travel and an intense love. The sound tracks are fantastic too. The ending is quite acceptable to me though it’s a bit too rushed. Arthur Chen proved how good an actor he is once again. 11/10 💖💖💖💖💖Was this review helpful to you?
