Unbreakable & Loyal Love
The series is incredibly well-made! The lighting, colors, sound, music, and CG are all spectacular! I loved every single scene—everything is so fun, energetic, and full of power. The costumes are grand and absolutely beautiful. I’m completely obsessed with it!!Duan Xu doesn’t just fight non-stop; he also showers He Simu with love to the fullest, pouring his entire heart and soul into everything. I surrender!!! This kind of loyal, steadfast, and unbreakable love is so touching. Even when the female lead disappeared for 5 years, he still waited for her. I adore Duan Xu so much!!! The chemistry between Dilraba and Chen Feiyu is super cute and really great too.
No characters are left behind—everything is fully resolved. The last 5 episodes are intensely heart-wrenching. There’s also a special episode. Personally, I love both endings! If you’re into this kind of fantasy romance, I highly recommend it!!
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Love Beyond the Grave is Truly the Best Fantasy Romance Drama of 2026
This is the absolute best! In the first quarter of the year, among all costume dramas, I rank this one No.1 in every aspect — screenplay, production, art direction, editing, pacing, soundtrack, and the performances from the entire cast. It’s truly premium quality, perfectly balanced, and flows so smoothly. Every single minute feels worthwhile; there isn’t a single unnecessary or boring moment.What stands out the most is the hidden “message” within the story — it’s layered with profound philosophy, life lessons, and deep insights. The dialogue is sharp, beautiful, and incredibly well-written. The portrayal of love is delicate, profound, and deeply moving. At the same time, the war and battle scenes are realistic, thrilling, brutal, and heartbreaking all at once.
I especially love how both the female and male characters are written with their own value and strength — no one is diminished or overly dependent. The chemistry between Dilraba and Chen Feiyu is out of this world — it makes you blush from the sweetness, yet the sadness hits extremely hard too. Wei Zheming also delivers the villain role with full power.
This is a one-of-a-kind xianxia series with a completely unique plot. The ending is cleverly done in both versions, leaving a strong impression. I’m truly amazed.
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The Ghost Queen and Her 23rd Graveyard Boyfriend
This is one of those dramas where if you get the plot, you'll absolutely love it. But if you don't, you might struggle to continue watching.It's genuinely fun and wildly entertaining, with a super unique and weird plot in the best possible way. The male lead makes a contract with the female lead, a powerful Ghost Queen, by trading away all five of his senses, simply because he wants to pursue her.And get this: she's a ghost who already has 22 ex-boyfriends, with their graves lined up in a row… Yet he still desperately wants to become the 23rd! Somehow, against all odds, the story turns out incredibly romantic and heartfelt.The chemistry between Dilraba and Chen Feiyu is fantastic. They play off each other so well. The soundtrack is beautiful, the CG and visuals are stunning, and from episode 36 onwards, it gets extremely emotional and heartbreaking.Highly recommended if you love fantasy romance, strong female leads, and love stories that transcend life and death.Was this review helpful to you?
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Lovesick Puppy Boy and Delulu Lunatic, Here We Go Again
"Love beyond the Grave" is one of my long-awaited C-drama and previously, I only endured the first 20 pages of its OG source 'cause the mortal world arc was too boring to my liking (I also have its hardcopy, but due to the difficulty of historical term, I'm discouraged to continue reading). After recovering from "Pursuit of Jade", I immediately enter the world of this drama. From my perspective, I can't say it's an excellent masterpiece, but it's not a catastrophe as well (err, it's going to one in the finale). I'm also aware that xuanhuan genre isn't everyone's cup of tea, hence the increasing amount of low rating. As a xuanhuan's fanatic, I'm used to seeing this phenomenon and just masticate every material given to me. Let's see my take on "Love beyond the Grave"."Love beyond the Grave" revolves around a 400-year-old ghost who is the sovereign of the spirit world, He Simu and a mortal general who is chosen by the Deliverance Sword as its master, Duan Xu/Duan Shunxi. On one of Simu's travel to the mortal world, she happens to pass by the lifeless Liangzhou City, adopts Xue Chenying after his father makes a deal with her, and finally encounters Duan Xu, discovering that he's wielding the Deliverance Sword (forged by her aunt). Simu deliberately gets close to him to dig information out of him, including his original background and the reason why he can wield that mystical sword. At first, the two play a cat-and-mouse game covered with multiple layers of deception they only know of. Over time, they share weal and woes together, open up each other's emotional wound, and learn of the predicament of life.
To put it frankly, "Love beyond the Grave" is actually plotless too. After Simu comes to the mortal world and strikes a deal with Duan Xu to exchange five senses every 10 days, everything should've come to an end. There's nothing special about it. However, the scene where Simu looks like a happy little puppy experiencing five senses makes me feel for her. A lot of people are criticizing about this part, but I guess it's normal for someone who can't feel five senses in themselves. Another issue which plagues this drama is the simp ML again. After a traumatizing experience of "Eat Run Love", I have been dreading simp ML and I guess we get another one in here. This occurs when Simu needs to leave the mortal world and returns to the spirit world to govern those rebellious ghosts and wandering spirits who can't let go of their obsessions. Duan Xu is supposed to travel to Nandu to catch up with his army, but he decides to abandon his life in the mortal world, recklessly entering the spirit world just to accompany Simu every day. Nevertheless, the amount of simping is much more tolerable compared to "Eat Run Love" where the FL repeatedly dumps the ML every time they meet (excuse me, but the simping is getting more obnoxious as the story goes - as you see, Duan Xu is always in need of last-minute rescuing, especially from Simu herself - other than her, all the characters also seem to be feeling sorry for this little general, including the spirit girl, Jiang Ai, Fengyi, and who knows). Simu loves Duan Xu himself, but she's bound by her duty and responsibility as the leader of the spirit world, so it's quite reasonable for her to push him away. Simu originally wants to take Chenying with her too if it hadn't been for her identity in the spirit world. One more, I hate the fussy Meng Wan (Duan Xu's subordinate) with her over-the-top histrionics and Xia Qingsheng isn't helping much either. Another aspect I have yet to mention is how Wei Zheming pulls off a delulu role so spectacularly that I start to loath Yan Ke. His unrequited love has driven him to an unhinged state with Simu always defying him, so it's no wonder that he will turn into an entirely different person. Moreover, he also craves for power and throne, which is why he has the motive to kill Simu's father.
Note: I shouldn't have expected much from the screenwriter of "The Journey of Chong Zi". I don't have any idea what the former had faced in the past, but 7.2 is a total cataclysm.
Dilraba Dilmurat once again rocks as a badass lady - Simu is my favorite character of hers so far, including Nie Jiuluo in "Love in the Turquoise Land". She also showcases her versatile acting skills by transitioning from a naive mortal girl experiencing the five senses to a domineering sovereign of all spirits. Her age gap with Chen Feiyu is definitely not a big problem here as they can create a sizzling chemistry hot enough to make you swoon over their couple scenes. Chen Feiyu himself also rises to another level of acting. After "Love Story in the 1970s", he continues to deliver hit after hit and is able to generate chemistry with every co-star he is paired with. However, he isn't without flaws, of course. Firstly, his simping level. Secondly, his smile is eerie enough to make you feel that he's kind of a stalker (in the early arc when he is a confident general). Thirdly, he loves to gamble with his life, which can be a bad lesson for little kids if they don't understand the underlying meaning of it. Fourthly, I totally dislike his hairstyle as the general, with those over-the-top long bangs - they don't suit him at all. Surprisingly, I love Wei Zheming as a villainous antagonist Yan Ke - he also has palpable chemistry with Dilraba when he cares for her. Meanwhile, Zhang Li hitches off as the avaricious yet kind-hearted spirit Jiang Ai and she captures the soul of Jiang Ai pretty well. This is my second time of watching her - the first being "Love on the Turquoise Land" too, but unfortunately, I don't like her character there. The rest of the casts are decent as well. Special shout out to little boy portraying Chenying, Fu Bohan. I truly feel for Chenying's loss of his father and his unwavering determination to protect his "sister", He Xiaoxiao (the identity Simu uses to deceive Chenying).
Edit: As Zogitt had previously mentioned, Simu is indeed a femme fatale type of FL, obviously seen from her code of conduct and how she keeps seducing Duan Xu. To put it simply, she's the one gravitating towards him and naturally the plot will be pushed forward.
I have mixed opinions for the OSTs though. Some of the OSTs are tolerable, but some are kind of jarring or perhaps not my cup of tea. CGI is outstanding as well, with the resplendent sets and backgrounds in the spirit world (can't imagine how they make those flying towers). Costumes are a bit of questionable (especially ML's clothes in the mortal world), but Dilraba's are beautiful though.
Edit: I've noticed that the production team has a distinctive favoritism for Huang Xiaoyun as her song is always played in almost every episode, alongside Zhou Hui and Liu Yuning's. Meanwhile, Zhou Shen's is sidelined as the ending credit and we only get to hear it several times. As for Lumi and Jin Wenqi, their songs are totally forgotten and only played twice or thrice nearing the end of the drama. Even Jin Wenqi's is dedicated for Jiang Ai - Bai Sanxing, not the main leads. This is just my personal view, but it's quite unbearable to me.
I'm not sure if I'll be rewatching it in the future as I tend to continue to other dramas soon after, but "Love beyond the Grave" takes a complete nosedive to the point that it can't be saved anymore, even after the review section is inundated by barrages of criticism, yapping, rants, and more. That's all I've got to say, good luck and happy watching!!!
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Best Chemistry I've ever seen!
Love Beyond the Grave is quickly becoming one of my favorite Chinese series. Everything about it was great: the storyline, the beautiful visuals, the intense fight scenes, the emotional moments, the supporting actors who all did a fantastic job, and the lead actors who were excellent. They have one of the best chemistry I've ever seen in a drama. I don't know if it's natural between them or if they're just really good at acting romantic, but I truly loved this series so much. I'm really going to miss it.Was this review helpful to you?
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A mesmerizing Emotionally Charged Masterpiece
Wow! What an emotionally charged journey this drama took us on! This drama had a very strong, unique storyline with stellar acting from both Dilraba and Arthur Chen . Both their characters had a lot of depth and complexities t and they made sure that all of them were portrayed seamlessly on screen. They gave us an entertaining , truly captivating and unforgettable performance. The chemistry between the leads was mind blowing making this fantasy so believable that you lived through all of their joy, pain and suffering.People forget that this is a fantasy from the beginning to the end. Fantasies have more creative leeway when compared to regular dramas. Here a 400 year old spirit and a young 20 yr old mortal are allowed to fall in love. You have to accept this when you watch this drama
Dilraba as the powerful ghost sovereign is frigid, cruel and formidable on the one hand while she softens during her interactions with the ML and lets him get whatever he wants from her. Arthur on the other hand is powerful in his own right as a cunning, courageous general/assassin who lives life on his own terms. You can see why they are attracted to each other. He can never be as powerful as this other world being I.e the spirit sovereign and he is not trying to be. He is who he is. He is extraordinary for living and loving without expectations - which is very hard to find. He Simu, always powerful and intimidating, can be soft and vulnerable only in front of Duan Xu. The real her comes alive only when she is with him.
The love story between the leads is in a constant deadlock because of who they are and this adds to the emotional rollercoaster you are on. The story also focuses on love, loss, obsession, choices and the very fabric of life.
There is a melancholic undercurrent and a dark gothic feel to this drama that go with the dynamic of the central love story. Time, life, life choices and death are the core of this drama and these two facets resonate through both the lead and supporting characters and their roles in their respective realms all the time. The drama makes you appreciate life more and understand what life is especially when we take so many things for granted. It makes you question what is important in life and think about what is important for a fulfilling life. It also makes you accept the uncertainties and inevitabilities of life and makes you want to live fully in the moment without thinking about the future or consequences.
The climatic/ ending episodes were so intense that they completely ripped me apart by rendering this raw and strong emotional experience! The only other drama with this kind of feeling for me was Till the End of the Moon. That is the benchmark and I want to place this one up there . This is going to stay on my rewatch list alongside TTEOM!
KUDOS to the strong supporting cast especially Miles Wei as the villain. No complaints about this gorgeous production that was executed with a lot of care. The world building was mesmerizing especially the Void which was both dead and alive at the same time in a very weird way.
A 10/10 for me. This drama was a class act -with superior story telling and pacing, sophisticated acting from the leads and the supporting cast. No character was neglected and no one stepped on the others toes. The writing and direction was top notch, with high quality production!
The one thing I appreciated the most is how all actors gave individual strong performances. They all stand out in their own roles! This is hard to come across in a lot of dramas!
I find some complaints a little ridiculous and will list them below:
1. The story is NOT REPETITIVE. There is a steady progression towards a climax.
2. Duan Xu is neither weak nor lovesick. He is young and this is his first time loving someone - unfortunately for him it was someone who had no feelings or emotions and mortal life meant nothing to her. He was very strong and persistent. He did not neglect his life by any means - he achieved what he wanted to. But he also paid a price for exchanging his senses -this is inevitable since it is the law of the universe . But the thing with Duan Xu is that he did not care even a little bit. And He Simu loved him for who he was- remember when she says how Duan Xu had his heart broken many times but he pieced them back together by himself and has lived courageously- that is who he is to her. A very strong and resilient human being. Oh and no one ran behind the other in this drama. Duan Xu was persistently waiting for her to come around that’s all . I thought it was a very respectful and equal relationship.
3. Age gap and chemistry - are you all kidding me here? I don’t even have words to counter this ridiculous comment especially in this day and age
4. The endings - 2 highly likely endings - I loved them both- this is a fantasy - what other miracle are people expecting ?
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The Puppy Boy Who Melted the Ghost Queen’s 300-Year Frozen Heart
This is another series I absolutely adore, and I’m definitely going to rewatch it many times. Even though there aren’t many overtly sweet scenes, the series portrays the love between He Simu and Duan Xu in the most profound and delicate way imaginable. Every word and action from Duan Xu feels incredibly romantic. The main couple truly loves each other—it’s a pure, genuine love where both are always willing to do anything for one another, always respecting and supporting each other without fail.It’s a xianxia fantasy, yet the core of the story revolves around the most ordinary aspects of human life: the five senses, meetings and partings, birth, aging, illness, death, and emotional attachments. This makes us deeply relate to the characters and realize that, for some people, true happiness can be just this simple.The leads, He Simu and Duan Xu, are portrayed perfectly. The supporting cast is also excellent—I found myself falling in love with and becoming attached to almost every character. The final stretch is emotionally devastating; I cried through nearly every episode.
Duan Xu enters to fill the 300 years of loneliness in Simu life, willingly giving up his short human lifespan so that Simu can experience the beauty of the world. In turn, Simu heals the deep childhood wound of abandonment that Duan Xu has carried. What I love most about their relationship is how they genuinely love and respect each other, despite their vastly different statuses. It’s mostly a long-distance love throughout the story, yet they never complain or pressure one another. No matter how many times Duan Xu gets his heart broken, he never gives up, never rushes, and never forces anything… It’s no surprise that this “puppy” eventually melts the heart that had been frozen for over 300 years. And most importantly, the chemistry between Dilraba and Chen Feiyu is outstanding.
The series remains quite faithful to the original novel. While some adaptations I liked and others I didn’t, overall it’s excellent. The pacing is perfect throughout—no dragging or unnecessary rushing. Personally, I loved both ending versions: the quiet eternity of walking side by side forever, and the vibrant, colorful life lived within a short human lifespan. This is truly one of the Chinese dramas that has filled my heart and moved me the most this year.
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“Simu, remember me a little longer.”
I want everyone to watch this amazing, non-cringy series “Love Beyond the Grave” It’s a premium production in every way – top-tier cast, stunning visuals, and incredible storytelling. The plot is completely unpredictable and packs every emotion you could ask for: heartwarming moments, super sweet and fluffy romance, tear-jerking sadness, and that wild, crazy kind of love that makes you lose your mind. The chemistry between Chen Feiyu and Dilraba is off the charts! The leads love each other so deeply. Duan Xu would do anything and sacrifice everything for Simu, while Simu silently protected him. It touched me so much!Especially the scene where Duan Xu says to Simu: “But you'll forget me. You'll point to my grave and say, 'I once truly cared for this person.' Simu, remember me a little longer.”
I almost cried my eyes out. If you love deep, emotional fantasy romance, you absolutely cannot miss this one. I highly recommend it.
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i love This drama
Review (Episodes 1–4):Episodes 1–4 of Love Beyond the Grave offer a beautifully crafted introduction that immediately captures attention. The drama sets a strong emotional tone early on, blending mystery, fantasy, and subtle character depth in a very engaging way.
The storytelling feels smooth and intentional, never overwhelming the viewer while still hinting at a larger, more complex narrative. Each episode builds upon the last, allowing the audience to slowly connect with the characters and understand their motivations.
The leads already show a quiet but compelling chemistry, with small moments and expressions carrying significant emotional weight. It’s the kind of connection that feels natural and gradually deepens rather than being rushed.
Visually, the drama continues to impress. The cinematography is elegant, with carefully composed scenes that enhance both the atmosphere and the storytelling. The OST remains a standout, perfectly supporting the mood and elevating key emotional scenes.
Overall, episodes 1–4 deliver a strong and immersive start, setting the foundation for what promises to be a deeply emotional and visually stunning journey.
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Awesome Concept & Show..... BUT Anticlimactic HE w/Choppy Editing
First time seeing Arthur in anything and I have to say that he did very well with this character. Granted, I have nothing to compare it to, but for now I can say that this was a good character for this actor. I follow Reba and Zhang Li, that's why I put this on my watchlist. Again, I'm going to keep it short and sweet and not my typical review.I really like the concept of the show. It was very different. I especially liked the fact that it primarily had fantasy elements as opposed to that fun genre aka Xianxia that I do not like very much. It did have that feeling in the end, though. I know the novel readers said that it deviated a lot from the book but overall I very much enjoyed it especially the fight scenes and yes, it was slow burn but the novel concept the exchange of the five senses was really cool as well. I like the sub plots, but for the most part, the storyline was solid until we got to the end and that's when choppy editing and a very anti-climactic ending just kind of petered a very promising drama out and dropped my score. I wish the sword that DX carried was used in more than just fighting ringwraith looking evil spirits, and I wish that he was instrumental in bringing down YK who was the show's largest villain by far, but got a half assed ending. I really like Miles Wei and his portrayal as the deranged, bug eyed, obsessed, power-hungry asswipe was spot on. I have to say that every single actor and actress for however long they were on screen did a very good job. I do wish they had fleshed out the story a lot more and exited characters some of them properly instead of just shooting the breeze so to speak. The wedding was absolutely gorgeous and I like that the kid became ghost king. But the way it went from her mourning DX (meanwhile, there's another scene again completely out of nowhere where I am guessing the now deceased DX in his wedding gown is in the middle of some blizzard in the middle of nowhere trying to find her and then is going towards some sun. Zero explanation on that) and then all of a sudden his little jellyfish thingy popped up and then cut straight to naming the new ghost king and her leaving the realm and then the jellyfish thingy following her being DX with her, then walking the streets in the mortal realm being seen by the Lord of fate and her 20th generation nephew saying that he will return cut to the extra episode and we're back in her crying over his body and everything being frozen. Like it was literally all over the place. And the weird thing is the ban on the amount of episodes had been lifted at the point this drama was shot so I do not understand why they couldn't have made two or three extra episodes to properly end that, instead of the hodgepodge of last 5 episodes and then the extra episode as well.
I cannot stand when in an extra episode because the last episode was so all over the place at the end still has three of the six minutes, totally on the same thing that the last episode was on and you don't even see the characters hug when they see each other as mortals at the end. They are literally standing something like 20 feet apart from each other, just staring at each other and that was the ending and then roll credits. I cannot stand when they do that in a drama. Because they had more than enough ample time to at least have them run to each other, hug each other; if they kissed that would've been great, but just hug and hold each other would've made that connection so much more powerful given all the absolute BS they went through in the series. So again, I will say I really really enjoyed the show but those last four episodes or maybe even five, the cop out death of YK after absolutely everything he put everyone through including imprisoning her for five years so she couldn't even see DX while his health was deteriorating and that whole ending was just a complete mess.
ZL and Baron Chen and a bunch of other characters including his war buddies and the kid great characters plus his two double agent friends, one who unfortunately had to off himself because of the power plays in the capital but great characters played very, very well. Wonderful OST's; I love LYN's OST it fit perfectly with them together. Costumes, the CGI was just off the chain gorgeous for a fantasy drama probably one of the first. Thankfully the colors were normal and not Technicolor Dreamcoat and it was just a nice series. Subtract the last five (though they did have good parts to them too).
Would I recommend it? Despite my dissatisfaction with a lot of the last five episodes though there was still some good stuff in there, I would have to say this is a series that one has to watch just because it's so different. And I'm one to love unique stuff and just the topic itself and how it was portrayed was very unique so definitely give it a go.
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Destiny, shared senses, and a romance that crosses borders between worlds.
"Love Beyond the Grave" was a pleasant surprise for me. I wasn't expecting a revolutionary drama, but I did find a rewarding, entertaining story with a very particular charm that kept me hooked from start to finish.Let's start with the obvious: Dilraba is gorgeous. But here, she's not just about beauty—she makes the most of every costume to build He Si Mu, the ghost Master of the Void. Her character is strong, harsh in her ways, but with a vulnerability that emerges as the plot progresses. I liked how the drama develops her evolution: going from being a soul trapped in her own coldness to someone who learns to feel again, literally and figuratively, thanks to Duan Xu.
Personally, I find Chen Fei Yu very handsome, and here he more than delivers. His character, Duan Xu, is a fascinating mix: he can be lighthearted and ridiculous one moment, and the next show himself to be masculine, romantic, strong, and a born strategist in war. Despite his traumatic past, he doesn't wallow in self-pity—on the contrary, his resilience is one of his most attractive traits. The contrast with He Si Mu's initial personality is the perfect fuel for the romance to work.
The premise that they are connected by fate to exchange senses (seeing, smelling, touching, feeling through each other) is original and very well utilized. It's not just a romantic device; it generates comedic, intimate, and also tragic situations that bring the characters and the viewer closer together. I liked how the plot clearly divides what happens in the mortal world and the Void, maintaining coherence in both spheres.
The supporting characters add freshness without stealing the spotlight. The villain fulfills his role without being one-dimensional, with nuanced depth involving rejection, love, desire on his part, and there are moments of drama, sentiment, and romance that are well-dosed throughout the series. The OST accompanies the key scenes very well, and the settings (both the mundane and the ethereal ones of the Void) are visually appealing.
I'm aware that there are two endings and that the drama ends in an open way. I confess that I'll stick with the happy ending, because after everything these characters go through, they deserve it. I understand that not everyone will like it, and perhaps a more forceful conclusion would have elevated the whole, but personally, it didn't ruin the experience for me.
"Love Beyond the Grave" isn't the most explosive drama nor one that will change your life, but it more than fulfills its goal: to entertain, move, and make you sigh. Dilraba and Chen Fei Yu have better chemistry than they are sometimes given credit for, the shared-senses premise is original and well-executed, and the balance between romance, comedy, and drama is well-achieved. If you're looking for a fantastical love story with charismatic characters and careful visual production, this drama is for you. I enjoyed it immensely.
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Insane chemistry, Breathtaking CG & visuals Last 5 episodes broke me
The series is so much fun!!! They went all out with the CG production — it’s absolutely spectacular and the visuals are stunningly gorgeous! Dilraba and Arthur Chen have the most amazing chemistry! Please give us another drama with this pair soon! This story portrays the love between He Simu and Duan Xu so deeply and delicately. Especially the last 5 episodes… it’s insanely heartbreaking. I was crying my eyes out non-stop! Both lead actors did an incredible job. Dilraba is so beautiful — her entrances are always so grand and majestic, and her costumes are gorgeous too. I’ve watched many of her dramas, but this is hands-down her best performance for me. Arthur Chen is super adorable when he’s pursuing and spending time with the female lead, and when he’s the general heading into battle, he’s so cool and crazy! 10/10 Must watch.Was this review helpful to you?
