THE ENDING IS SL BEAUTIFUL. ICAN ASCEND TO HEAVEN
I love everything from start to finish. Angst, forbidden love, comedy, romance is so plenty. They really are cute and beautiful dynamic. The ending is so beautiful I'm very SATISFIED. Everything is TOPNOTCH. Such a masterpiece. This is how directors should start and end their drama! Also I really love the CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT of many characters especially FurongJun and Youlan. Ms. Jin is so beautiful, hope Zi Chun will love her forever. Shen Li and Xingzhi had beautiful relationship, they protect each other, no miscommunication even though they think they should've never been inlove, "I can do everything without hiding it from you", "if there's a will there's a way". They're so stubborn that I can't help but sigh and cheer. I also love Mofang tho I feel betrayed still he protected her until his last breath. I also love the story of Liu Yu and Fenglai, such tragedy. I can't help but cry on her parents love story and the way Fenglai meet her daughter Shenli. Her holiness, the soldiers are all bad ass, they did well. I love everything aaahhhhhhhhhhhh. The best of the best! They go all the way and not very stingy in kissing scenes too. I think the director doesn't want to repeat the tragedy of princess agent hahahaha. I love you writer and director. Thank you ZingShen couple. 💙💙💙Was this review helpful to you?
Best XianXia
Seriously this is the best XianXia drama I have watched so far for this year! And many previous drama is not comparable with this.The storyline, music for every events is just on the spot! Not to mentioned the animation they are using, is just so good.
Not to forget actor acting and chemistry that both lead and other supporting had. Everything is top notch.
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This review may contain spoilers
Long awaited but a dismal disappointment
I was so eagerly waiting for this series to come out because of this main couple's unforgettable chemistry and performance together in Princess Agents, and the ML is one of my favorite actors. Unfortunately this series was a dismal disappointment in so many ways. I skipped through a lot of it, it was so boring. I cannot even list out any redeemable good things about it...so here are the reasons it was so terrible.- The dubbing was so awful! It was so distractingly bad and was a disservice to the actors and ruined the overall experience. No proper background sounds or anything - just silence and then the dubbed voices.
- Weird sound effects like farm animal noises are used in an attempt to emphasize scenes that are supposed to be funny. Felt like you are watching random TikTok videos w/ stupid sound effects, It was so distracting.
- Pacing was so slow and boring. Oddly dragged out staring or walking scenes.
- ML (Lin Geng Xin) is one of my favorite actors. His performance fell flat in this role. I understand that these types of roles for ancient gods they are supposed to be stoic - but he just came across as a boring character with little depth and lack of effective emotional expression.
- FL (Zhao Li Ying) - I am not a big fan of this actress, I don't think she has good acting range or facial expression/emotions. She's really only good at playing a cold & tough fighter. And half of her lines were delivered as voice narrations of her inner thoughts! The entire series, she barely actually spoke to the other characters but just had internal monologues!
- Makeup and costume were not terrible, but not great either for this type of high budget production. The FL's makeup was so bad! Her eyeliner always looked smudged like she slept in her makeup overnight. And close up shots you can clearly see the fake eyelashes over her real eyelashes so it looked like she had 2 different levels of eyelashes!
- Chemistry - the main couple could not replicate the intense chemistry they had in Princess Agents
- The last 2 episodes were completely unnecessary! The storyline had wrapped up, the main couple had their happy ending. So WHY the need to drag out 2 more episodes to showcase that random other couple getting married (the Snake god lady)? I just don't understand it.
I am so upset that my eager long awaited anticipation and time spent watching it was a total waste!
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Overall Good, however not one of my Top Favourites.
Just finished the series! Overall, it's alright, with potential to appeal strongly to some viewers, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me, especially after 20 episodes in. The comedic elements, particularly with Furong and his sister, were a highlight for me. However, I struggled to connect with the main female and male leads, possibly due to the pacing, and the story being a bit drawn out. My emotional investment leaned more towards characters like Mofang and the backstory of the female lead's parents, as well as the development of some minor characters. While it didn't entirely captivate me, I'd still encourage anyone intrigued to give it a chance, as individual experiences with the show may vary.Side note: Despite some scenes where the music randomly played, the overall impact of the music in this series evoked emotions and set the tone for various scenes adding depth to the storytelling - some parts got very emotional haha!
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A Breathtaking Tale of Love and Destiny
The Legend of Shen Li is a masterpiece of Chinese fantasy television that blends myth, emotion, and visual splendor into an unforgettable viewing experience. The storytelling is elegant and offering a balance between grandeur and intimacy that few series achieve. The chemistry between the lead actors is magnetic — their performances bring depth and authenticity to a world filled with gods, mortals, and destiny.What truly sets this series apart is its ability to evoke emotion without relying on clichés. The pacing feels deliberate, allowing the audience to fully absorb the beauty of its world and the complexity of its characters. The cinematography and costume design are stunning, turning every frame into a work of art.
I especially loved how much focus was placed on the individual characters — you can truly see them grow, struggle, and transform throughout the story. Their personal journeys make the series even more compelling and emotionally resonant.
While The Legend of Shen Li is rich in fantasy and lore, at its heart it’s a story about love, courage, and self-discovery. It’s the kind of series that leaves you thinking long after the final scene — a rare gem in modern television.
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This review may contain spoilers
A Phoenix FL and Ancient God ML
So, "Legend of Shen Li" finally dropped, and I gotta say, the visuals are amazing—like, top-notch cinematography. But when it comes to the story, it feels pretty familiar with a phoenix female lead and an ancient god male lead. The twist that the female lead is a half-Chimei adds a nice touch, though.The themes are kind of like what we’ve seen in other dramas, focusing on divine beings dealing with forbidden love while trying to protect their realms. The cast, who we remember from "Princess Agent," does a great job and keeps the quality up.
But honestly, the villains are a letdown. They don’t feel intimidating at all, and their introduction feels pretty weak, which makes the story feel anticlimactic.
There are some pacing issues and a few filler scenes here and there, but the fight scenes are really fun to watch. The music during the female lead's battles makes those moments even better. Episode 23 is a standout with some intense confrontations.
I was hoping for some epic clashes between Shen Li and Xingzhi, especially after seeing how skilled Xingzhi is against her father. Still, "Legend of Shen Li" is a solid watch, even if it could use some tweaks here and there.
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One of the Best Slow Burn Dramas!
I don’t write reviews very often, but this needs to be typed. I love this drama. I usually have no patience for a slow burn romance, but the lead’s chemistry was off the charts from the first episode and the gentle unfurling of emotion and love onscreen filled my soul!! Towards the end there was just the right amount of angst and the cast were so believable in their grief, pain, fear, and love. what a delightful story!!! I’m so pleased with this drama! The OST is beautiful as well as the spectacular CGI. Everything about this seems expensive. Great!Was this review helpful to you?
Dream xianxia - Chemistry, chemistrying.
The Legend of Shen Li is a story that should be watched without having any expectations. I'm always lazy to write reviews, yet it's one of those dramas I want to write some little one at least. This drama is a fantastic remedy for any tragic or painful romance. It just requires patience with the pacing when you start, that said I find engaging from the very firsts episodes credit to the setting and leads interactions. I think everything was thought out to give the spectators a good time.The main actors mature look gives such an exhilarating satisfaction just from their screen presence to the acting. The chemistry and complementary dynamics between them in the same frame is so excellent that it leaves you wanting more. The plot was interesting in his own way not complex to understand. Although the leads epic love story captured my full attention more throughout the whole show. One of the best slow burn romance for me to this date, between a rom-com feel in an historical set, and slice of life scenery in a world Chinese fantasy. I laughed, I had tears, I smiled, I screamed, I was impatient from enjoyment that imperfections were less important. No lie the ships was really superior.
The costumes are impeccable in accordance with the portrait painted by the characters. The female lead apparence giving this strong aura for her imposing personality while highlighting her feminine beauty. Then, the male lead was just as convincing in his relax look, befitting mood and seniority which gave him an virile and attractive side - A big crush for both.
The cinematography is a big plus with some soothing sets delightful to watch for some arcs. The CGI which is fairly good quality for most of the drama is notable. It was so spectacular during a few fights scene, emotional moments going along vibrant OST. There are also characters that I find remarkable acting and which take time to grow on you.
The last 2 episodes were pleasing that I can’t possibly move on. Yes, you know an ending who deserves absolutely your watch time.
Anyway, I highly recommend for people who want to watch a different refreshing xianxia or for someone starting their first in this genre.
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This review may contain spoilers
While there are some nice moments of drama, comedy and fights in this xianxia drama, I found it far too long and repetitive to make a profound impact for the audience who is looking for more than its romance story. Its generic plot and characters are somewhat shocking to me given the caliber of actors in the cast. Shen Li and Xingzhi, aside from their romance, do not undergo much development or growth in their characters. Some of the supporting roles and side/guest roles are far more distinctive in their growth such as Furong and Youlan as they become true leaders of the Divine Realm/Clan - or just more interesting such as the former god Qingye and Lady Jin.Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin are skilled enough actors to make their story work - I especially enjoyed the first several episodes in the mortal realm. The rest of the cast are great with what they are given to work with, but don't expect any deeper themes to be woven into the story that would stand out compared to some of the better xianxia dramas in the past several years. If you are a fan of the actors and xianxia, this is still worth a check, but it is unfortunately more of the same in my opinion.
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NOT THE USUAL XIANXIA
Conflicts get resolved FAST in this drama! There’s barely any buildup!The two leads are incredibly powerful, especially the ML. He wields immense power, to the point where he can take down any villain or big bad with just a dramatic flick of his hand. The FL is just as strong-willed and independent, which makes her a perfect match for him.
But, I did have to adjust to the pacing, especially in the beginning. It starts off a bit slow since the drama takes its time developing Shen Li and Xingzhi’s relationship. Some of the side characters felt like filler or just comic relief, though I did enjoy the occasional meta moments (Goddess Youlan).
One of the biggest highlights is definitely the cast. Zhao Liying is fantastic here. Her character has so much strength and depth. She’s unapologetically powerful and, thankfully, not whiny! Lin Geng Xin might not be the most expressive actor in c-dramaland, but this role fits him perfectly. He plays the stoic, all-powerful last surviving ancient god so well. I honestly can’t picture anyone else doing it better.
While this drama didn’t hit me as hard emotionally as some other xianxia dramas, there’s just something so compelling about it that keeps me coming back for more.
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It gave JUSTICE to the novel
From the trailer to the drama, everything was a masterpiece. This is one of xianxia dramas that I will never get tired of re-watching and re-reading. The pacing is great and it never felt lile it was rushed. Moreover, everytime they deliver a line from the novel, I always fold. My favorite side character is Lady Jin! She mothered so hard (bless her and her cave of desires). I also commend them for giving Furong's character more substance in the drama and how they incorporated Fenglai and Liyiu's story and Lady Jin's marriage. LGX and ZLY delivered their roles perfectly. The BGMs and OSTs are not to be missed! Curley Gao and Zhang Bichen are the GOATs of cdrama OSTs.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The premise of the drama is both captivating and intriguing, introducing viewers to Shen Li, a character torn between her celestial responsibilities and her own desires. Forced into an alliance marriage with a notorious playboy Fu Rong Jun from the Divine Clan, Shen Li's defiance sets the stage for a journey of self-discovery, sacrifice, and unexpected alliances.What sets "The Legend of Shen Li" apart is its nuanced portrayal of its characters, particularly Shen Li and Xing Yun. Shen Li's transformation from a powerful celestial being to a vulnerable red phoenix stripped of her powers is a metaphorical journey of loss and rediscovery. Actress Zhao Li Ying brings depth and emotion to the role, capturing the complexities of Shen Li's inner turmoil and her evolving relationship with Xing Yun. Opposite Shen Li, Xing Yun emerges as a compelling counterpart, his aloof demeanor masking a tender heart and a penchant for secrets. Actor Lin Geng Xin delivers a nuanced performance, infusing Xing Yun with a mixture of mystery and vulnerability that draws viewers into his enigmatic world.
The dynamic between Shen Li and Xing Yun forms the emotional core of the drama. What start as a random encounter turned into a lifetime of love. As Shen Li grapples with her newfound mortality, Xing Yun becomes her unlikely ally, offering solace and companionship. They fought for one another, protecting their love, fighting for peace.
Furthermore, "The Legend of Shen Li" is elevated by its breathtaking cinematography and immersive world-building. From the celestial palaces adorned with intricate details to the bustling streets of the mortal realm, each setting is brought to life with stunning visuals and meticulous attention to detail. In addition to this the background music deserve their recognition. From the oriental melodies that Shen Li fought to the heartfelt ballads that underscore moments of love and sacrifice, the background music and original soundtrack elevate every scene, immersing audiences in an auditory journey that lingers long after the credits roll.
In summary, "The Legend of Shen Li" is a captivating blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure, brought to life by its compelling storyline, endearing characters, and enchanting melodies. So, surrender to the magic of this celestial tale and let yourself be swept away on a journey of love, redemption, and unforgettable melodies.
This has cured my PA heart.
Re watch Value: 10/10
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