Surprisingly promising
Having awaited this drama since Nov '21, I only went into it blind a few days ago because truthfully, I was skeptical with the recent xianxia works. When the average cdrama is typically 30+ ep, it's tricky to determine if it's worth the emotional investment. Having seen Youku's poster shooting, it was evident the entire production oozes quality, colour and excellent direction. First episode in and you can immediately smell the potential success this would receive. From the opening until the staggering contrast of the last scene of Ep1, it's definitely a remarkably strong first episode and trust when I say it only gets much better from here.From the get go, the style is reminiscent to LBFAD and while the enemy to lovers trope is the main theme, the similarity ends here. In particular, there is a dynamic portrayed between Ep2-3 that I've never witnessed in cdrama, and it's both tragic and refreshing to see. The frustration is nonexistent when it came to the brilliantly crafted FL, who actually possesses personality, capability and intelligence that goes far beyond the helpless variation portrayed in most xianxia works. Played by Bai Lu, she is doing a fantastic job of representing the viewers in our experiences of unravelling what exactly took place 500 years ago. She navigates and struggles with her emotions and values in a very raw form, that her rage is your own, and her internal conflicts mirror yours.
This is the first drama I'm watching starring Luo Yunxi, and I recognized his pretty visual from seeing his picture in one of the food/snack packages in my local Chinatown supermarket (no, really).
Having heard of LYX's talents in passing, I was still very much floored by his performance. It was less about expectation than hope when entering this drama, because there's nothing quite as disappointing when a work is set up so highly for success. But the introduction to his character as the devil god is so strongly portrayed, that his presence practically commands the screen in just brief seconds. His vacant and chilling expression is impossible to overlook, and there is an unnerving aura tied to his role that makes one extremely uncomfortable and allured at the same time. His silence is terrifying. Toward the very end of Ep1, it is without a doubt LYX possesses extreme versatility to embody the characterization of Tantaijin, where your feelings are shifted just from the slightest break in expression. He truly is excellent.
The action scene in Ep4 ia surprisingly impressive, the CGI is incredibly three dimensional, the visuals are lively and vivid, and costumes are great. It seems to check mark a lot of things but since I'm still very early into the drama, this rating will be reviewed past the half mark at Ep20 (I am at Ep5). The only con is the dubbing, but it's commonly done in cdramas so it's only a minor issue. I was pleasantly suprised that TTJ was not a voice over but LYX's natural soft spoken voice, which is very fitting for the character. At present, the drama very favourable and opens a lot of opportunities for where the plot could lead to. But for a drama of 40 episodes, there are a lot of ways it could potentially go south. Until that's confirmed, I'd highly give it a try.
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Interesting twists and turns
I love the way this drama twists and turns making you pay attention thinking that it is not so ho hum like others. Never seen a wife so mean. Lol. Nor a husband just take it. But it doesn't stay that way. I did wander if they had any real feelings. I picked this drama as my fave Deng Wei is in this one. He 's so great. I like him in everything I've seen him in so far. This has a good cast too. I can't wait to see how it ends. I wonder that it may not be a happy ending but don't know. I do like the fantasy aspect in this particular drama as it s not so dark as some are. The FL is a really pretty girl and has a special draw , charming, yet ornery.Was this review helpful to you?
A Painful Journey
I want to emphasise that stopping around episode 35 will give you enough mental peace to love the show. Where do I start with this excitingly messy ride?First, I want to address that the storyline is interesting from the get-go: a fearless devil who will destroy the entire universe to be stopped by a righteous immortal travelling 500 years back in time. Transmigrations are always so enjoyable to watch. I personally really enjoyed the first half of the show.
This drama in its purest form is the most enemies to lovers trope you will ever come across. It’s a tug of war between good and evil, might and right. The leads will create the most stupefying chemistry with the unbeaten tension and colliding worldviews. Morality is challenged countless times and the main lead Tantai jin will go through wonderful character development. Li Susu’s character is worthwhile. She’s not the damsel in distress. She fights her battles independently and saves the people she loves.
I love Bai Lu and Leo’s chemistry. They embodied their characters so well. It was amazing to watch. The soundtrack of the show also deserves a praise. Amazing music, perfectly expressive with each scene.
The list of things that I loved have come to an end, unfortunately. Whilst I loved the main plot and characters, I found the themes to be very repetitive. The leads would grow an understanding, bond, love, misunderstand, hate and boom, make irreparable damage. This is the viscous cycle till the 40th episode. It got so predictably annoying. The misunderstandings were also stupid. It irked me when a character as empathetic and intellectually strong as Yi Xiwu would misunderstand and act upon impulse. Sometimes I thought I knew the characters well but they’d prove me wrong when they’d do something completely incomprehensible next moment.
The writing falls really weak by the end. The desperation to end the show badly could be seen clearly. They just refused to give Tantai Jin a chance at happiness even when he had completely surrendered himself before the world. It wasn’t his fault that in his entire life, not one person could truly love him. When he meets Yi Xiwu, his desperation to hold onto her was poetic but the show demeans his attempts at living a righteous life.
Moving on, though Leo as Tantai jin was amazing, the makeup and costume watered down his character. I didn’t like the really exaggerated eyeshadows and lipsticks. It frankly made his intense scenes feel comical which is really a shame because Leo put his everything into the character. Yi Xiwi was a sight for sore eyes whilst Tantai Jin’s entire image was just unnecessarily bad. The editing also did not impress me, quite lazy and disappointing.
Overall, it’s good. Sometimes too good. Sometimes it’s awfully lengthy woven with a tower of misunderstandings and grievances, but the main leads and their chemistry will overshadow many faults. If you want to watch “I hate you so much, I love you” to an extreme, then this is perfect.
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Visually Stunning Drama That Leaves you Craving for More
I started watching this because I thought it'll be like another Love Between Fairy and Devil. But I was proved quite wrong.Pros-
Bai Lu. She was a dream to watch. She was able to express the different nuances to her role so beautifully. And I was so glad that her character wasn't those over-the-top cutesy, loud and whiny female characters who are busier acting the kawai damsel in distress than actually doing something about her situation. This was one character who took charge at every incarnation she had, and I loved it.
Tantai Jin. His character arc was beautiful to watch. From being an evil Devil God to transforming into a "nicer" person to being a considerate Devil God, his narrative was very well executed.
Acting and Cast. Ye Bin Chang was this brilliantly flawed character, and the actress did a really good job at playing this delicate "flower of evil" kinda role. The other actors were also pretty good in their roles.
The worldbuilding. In one word, it was STUNNING. Generally Xianxia dramas pay a lot of attention to the graphics and everything, but the fantasy world was so real and believable, absolute feast for the eyes. The costumes, the set designs, the VFX, and even the fancy flying fight sequences and all, were quite well executed. This experience was made for a big screen, I feel. The OST was also quite good. It's still stuck in my head.
Cons-
Luo Yun Xi as the Male Lead. Honestly, I didn't like him in the first watch, but maybe a rewatch after sometime might change my opinion. In my opinion, he was TOO THIN. I get it that one aspect of his character demanded him to be sickly and thin, but for me, his stick figure thin body just stood out like a sore thumb. And his long, flowy costumes didn't work for him either, made him look thinner. I was SORELY missing Dylan Wang in this regard, because he looked like a BOMB as the Devil in LBFAD. Even his acting felt a bit wooden to me in parts, but maybe that's his character's demand. Again, hoping that a rewatch might change my opinions.
Editing. It was choppy in parts, sometimes the scenes would just transition from one to the next without any connection between the two. Quite irritating that was. Also, the additional villains were just stupid and unnecessary.
Ending. I do not like dramas that do not provide closure at the end. AND THIS WAS ONE SUCH DRAMA WITHOUT ANY CLOSURE. I legit went back to search if there are extra episodes after the 40th one, because THE ENDING WAS SO INCOMPLETE. I get it about sad endings and all that, but keeping it open ended without any explanations and so abrupt was just ANNOYING.
Overall, the lead couple's love story and their chemistry was what shone the best in this series. This made me watch Love is Sweet, because I was vouching for them so much. Although I didn't like the look of Lui Yun Xi in this drama, I loved his character. But Dylan Wang will still be my favorite Devil. Give it a watch, it is a decent one.
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Beautiful, but…
This drama was spectacular. However I am exhausted watching it. I can only watch 2-3 episodes at a time because it’s so emotionally draining. There is nothing that isn’t gorgeous about it, the sets, the costumes, but mostly the two main actors. They do more with facial expressions than actual dialogue. I haven’t finished it yet, but from all the reviews I know how it ends, so I’m trying to prepare myself?.Was this review helpful to you?
Love and hate are two sides of the same coin
I have a masochistic relationship with this show. I hate what it does to me yet I can't stop watching. The show is about a couple who are in an abusive and messed up relationship. Things go so badly wrong yet they stay together because of their messed up pasts. They don't want to be together yet they don't want to be apart. They have no one else and so they stay together. They miss each other but don't want to see each other. They love each other for all the wrong reasons and their love often turns into hate. It is often said that it's worst to have no feelings for someone than it is to hate because hate is an extreme (though unhealthy) form of love.Similarly, I am abusing myself by watching it. So many times I've wanted to stop because the show was so messed up - not because the story didn't make sense (ok, at times it didn't) but because this love-hate dynamic is confusing. And I hate the show for what it did to me - despite wanting to tear myself away from the show, I couldn't stop myself from watching. Why? I already know the ending thanks to some of the reviews here and I know I'm going to be sad yet I still want to finish it. That's the power and the lure of this show that no show has had on me recently.
This show is a study in contrasts. The show is an examination of internal strife and conflict and is tantamount to self-abuse. It is a tortured love. Love it or hate it, it's worth a watch to decide.
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Nice acting but weak story and so so production.
Pretty much your typical chinese fantasy drama but with pretty decent male and female lead. Story wise it is the typical demon lord/villain and fairy/good female troope, production seems nice but bad CG here and there, fighting scenes borderline lame with most character only opening their arms and then let the bad CG do the fight. Bailusi and Luoyunxi act well as usual but they are protaying their typical characters and it is mostly slow scenes focusing on their face. Setting is ridiculous, everyone wear super thick makeup and lipstick even the male character, wearing their best cloth and full jewelry to sleep that you will definitely think how they do it. The producer also try to keep everything looks beautiful that even a broken palace can look so clean without dust and a crazy abandoned maid come with full makeup with grand clothing. In the end, I expect a slow series but hopefully not boring one.Story
Until ep 4, typical c drama plot. I think we have at least two similar demon lord and some goddess love story last year.
Act
Good acting limited by weak story from the two main cast, other cast barely noticeable.
Music
Nothing too memorable, even the end OST by maobuyi and zhangbicheng.
Setting and Clothing
Everything looks too beautiful and fake. I am pretty sure I will not see dusty place or actual dirty cloth in the whole series.
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Till now It's Great
.......................................................................................................................................................So I have watched 2 Episodes till now and both were amazing, It's Ost is so soothing and acting by both these actors are top notch. Since I haven't seen whole story and can't give any ratings for them as I am not a seer or in simple I can't see future. As the drama proceeds I will write reviews again and depending on that I will change ratings.
Hope This drama Creates history in Chinese drama industry.
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Love Overcomes Everything!
The ML murdered demons for power and slaughtered a city of civilians because the FL died. Oh, what great love! The demons should be proud that their years of hard work didn’t go to waste and the people should be glad that they didn’t need to work so hard and live such mediocre lives without love. Deaths of family, friends, defenceless civilians, duty / pride / honour as a saviour are nothing compared to such love. So, the FL returned to love and support him, even in denouncing her sister who stole a some love-inducing threads from the vixen.The sister, a young defenceless mortal, was requested by a dying soldier (of the same country) to bring the threads to his beloved vixen. The poor vixen waited in vain for years because of the evil sister! The vixen lost the ability to love, while being consoled by her current boyfriend, the FL’s brother. How dare the sister stole the threads! The brother was only left with the vixen’s body! The brother’s heart ached for the vixen who wanted to love him so much that she went to the battlefield to persuade him to surrender so that he would not be killed by the bloodthirsty ML.
The brother was then enlightened to the errors of his military upbringing and decisively surrendered without negotiation. The vixen would not lose another love who died defending the country. Surely the love of the ML for his sister would let him spare the soldiers and civilians. Surely the love of the ML would touch the hearts of the officials and people on the opposite side and erase the pain of fallen soldiers. How can the lowly lands and properties matter more than love!
Wow! What a brilliant show that made people live out their dreams! No need for hard work! Sociopaths/psychopaths rule! Powerful people make the rules. Plagiarism, so what! People should be honoured that their work was worthy enough to get copied.
Alas! Many ordinary mortals like me have too weak a body constitution to stomach the glorious love. We have to sadly turn to something with at least some common sense.
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Saving myself from this ordeal...
As much as I love Bailu and Luo Yun Xi, I've decided to drop this after 1.5 episodes. I'm so annoyed with the FL's actions right now.Sure, she was scared of the Devil God from her own time but she did come back to the past BEFORE he became evil for a reason, right? Why try to get him upset and then act like he is more than the current situation?
She realized right off the bat that the real Ye Xi Wu was a difficult person so she didn't have to continue acting like her. But no, here she was letting him continue kneeling in the snow while she contemplated how he deserved it and that he was indeed not a "normal person". Then when he fainted, she was praying that he wouldn't die when she - as Ye Xi Wu, the person who made him kneel originally - could have just as easily freed him and started analyzing how she would accomplish her mission.
There were other infuriating things from the first episode too, so I'm doing myself a favor and choosing not to suffer through this stupidity.
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