The best C-drama probably until the end of time

I've written a review for my other favorite, TTEOTM, and decided I should write one about this one (I watched it years ago).
If TTEOTM was a culmination of arcs and ideas that were exploited satisfyingly (albeit with some plot problems), this one seemed to start at a single point and expand outward relentlessly from there. The pacing is intense and substantive, the story is complex and masterful, and the acting is nothing short of wonderful. Very rarely do elements come together to form what could be an alternate universe or a chapter in history... Nirvana in Fire manages this, and is probably thus one of the best dramas I've personally ever watched.

Where to even start? Probably the story, the most wonderful thing about this drama. Although this meets the eye as the typical revenge plot with an ambitious strategist as the protagonist, there's so much nuance and many dynamics under the surface level that truly connect the dots together. How Lin Shu's history is intertwined with the present for many characters including Jingyan is beautiful, and the little twists and schemes involved (completely impossible but riveting) from how Mei Chang Su deals with Nihuang's suitor contest to how his aid towards Prince Yu helps Prince Jing is magnificent. Not only are the details critical and brilliant, they play a tremendous role in how the drama ultimately develops. Despite the numerous arcs, etc. that are present in the drama, they still fit into the narrative on how Lin Shu achieves his revenge goal. The writing in between, including the dialogue and script, excellently achieves this effect (not sure how the countless translated captions fare in corroborating the intent of the original script... watched this in Mandarin). Cleverness and wit are woven into every aspect of this drama and its characters' motivations (they all make sense given the time, personality, etc.). How the drama doesn't seem forced (besides its pacing at times) as well as the plot's fluidity is really impressive storytelling; it's also what separates this from similarly good Wuxia/Xianxia that doesn't reach its heights.

That being said, its complexity makes elements of the plot sometimes difficult to remember beyond the initial watching. That makes it satisfying to rewatch, and every rewatch I still find myself astounded by the numerous twists and ideas present. Given this, know that I watch a drama for the ideas and cleverness more so than the execution/logical sense (this one for the most part fulfills both, but there are some plot holes you find if you think carefully enough), and therefore I'd probably enjoy gripping stories much more than most/prioritize them over other things to make/break a drama.

I guess that's enough time spent on the story. I think the second thing to note here is the acting.

To be fair, there isn't much character development in most of the characters more than a change of motivations/desires, etc. I do think the characters fit perfectly with the setting and situation, but for those looking for those coming-of-age/character development arc dramas, this one is probably less so your thing... I'd push you to TTEOTM to see Tantai Jin if you wanted to see character development. The characters are mostly well developed already in this drama, and because of the abundance of motivations and schematics, it's hard to follow individual characters throughout (even the protagonist).

Given this, I don't think this drama would be a rave review for any individual actor. Instead, the entire cast does a great job portraying their parts to really make this story work. From Xia Jiang to Xie Yu (antagonists along the way), the antagonists of this drama are played amazingly. Their micro expressions, desperation, and different emotions are played realistically and believably for the plights they find themselves in. I do think a special shoutout has to go to Victor Huang who plays Prince Yu; his scenes are done beautifully to portray a pompous and crafty prince who eventually devolves into resignation. Additionally, the characters really do interact with the story and plot's purposes, something that I find often missing from a drama. The protagonists are played similarly well, with Mei Chang Su (Hu Ge) displaying the depth needed for a sick strategist who needs to finish one final task. He did remind me of Tantai Jin (Til the End of the Moon), but this one is significantly less dramatic of a portrayal (I think it's fair for the role Mei Chang Su plays) and therefore also less memorable. It's great acting nonetheless, and other protagonists like Consort Jing do really come alive with the acting of a splendid (and very expensive) cast.

Finally, I'll talk about the OST a little. I personally quite enjoyed the song 红颜旧 sung by Liu Tao (plays Mu Nihuang) and think the majority of the songs are quite pleasant. I did enjoy their melodies although I oftentimes found the singing subpar (that's okay, I do think it's more representative of the cast when sung by the cast). It's one of the great OSTs I've heard, despite having few songs. I wouldn't watch it for the OST (like I would Love Between Fairy and Devil), but it's kind of a bonus :)

Definitely the best drama I've ever watched and will be coming back to it over and over again.

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Underrated more than anything on MDL

This drama is really underrated internationally, though from my knowledge it was quite popular in mainland China. It's very deserving of its popularity there... this slice of life drama is comedic, entertaining, and gripping, and I did not skip a single episode while watching it. Additionally, the characters were all developed beautifully and were easy to remember based on their individual personalities (despite there being a lot of characters). An all around great drama that's definitely worth your while : )

The story is about college entrance exams and follows three families and their lives. It's realistic, entertaining, and not at all drawing (though I would usually worry about such plots). The characters in the story are all developed wonderfully and add to the story's sense of stress, urgency, etc. during the entrance exam (especially Song Qian) as well as the joy of just being in a family (perhaps Fang Yuan or Fang Yifan). I found this much more gripping than most slice-of-life's (for example Joy of Life and Hidden Love), and would definitely rewatch it; it's a very heartwarming and surprisingly lighter drama.

The acting is where this show really shines. Veteran actors like Huang Lei, Hai Qing, Yong Mei, and others come together to play the parents in this show so wonderfully from their own worries to helping their kids' worries. The acting here is definitely the best I've ever seen for a slice of life (modern dramas don't have as much to act for). The expressiveness of the actors and actresses, especially Hai Qing and Huang Lei, remind me of Luo Yunxi a lot so if you're into him you might check this acting out; very natural yet perfectly emotional. The kids also portray their personalities beautifully and you develop a sort of relatability (difficult to do in most dramas) as well as empathy for the characters and their situations.

The music is pleasant but not personally my cup of tea; I very rarely rate OSTs well so that's that.

Overall definitely watch this one; it's a whole package and gift neatly wrapped. To add to it, you'll enjoy the content inside ;)

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Defies all expectations

When this drama first came out, many thought it would fall flat with its leads. Little did they know, this is both Dylan's and Esther's magnum opus, topping iQiyi's charts. It's a beautifully thought-out romance with great acting, endearing characters, and a compelling pacing. That being said, I might be doing some comparisons with 'Til the End of the Moon' here simply because both have a similar concept in terms of characters : )

Defying all expectations just like this drama (very cringy, I know), I'm going to start by writing about the OST. This is probably the single best OST that's ever graced a C-drama. There's been good ones, for example 'The Long Ballad', 'The Untamed', and 'Til the End of the Moon,' but oh my. This one is beautifully done, with the songs representing the characters' emotions and thoughts in all the right ways. The lyrics are touching and the melodies are achingly beautiful; considering I'm a classical musician (violinist who appreciates mostly classics), I was surprised to find myself enjoying an OST as I almost never do (I just start off with a base of 7 as the OST score). I didn't even skip the starting and ending of the episodes just to listen to the OST many times- it's that good.

I guess where this drama really did hit it out of the park is the acting. From the body swaps (must be very difficult to portray... the characters are completely opposite in terms of personality and demeanor) to the characters in dramatic scenes (Orchid dies the first time, etc.), everything is perfectly portrayed. While Esther Yu played her roles nicely, I did not find anything too special about it... Dylan Wang however really surprised me. The subtle facial expressions, changes in demeanor, and substantial nuances in his performance were effective and vital to really bringing Dongfang Qingcang alive (which he did). You cried for this character, laughed for this character, and cheered for him if you watched this drama. The only performance in a C-drama that I think beats this by a tad is Luo Yunxi in 'Til the End of the Moon', mostly because that one's incredible when it comes to portraying the multiple facets and fates of a single character. Additionally, the demon king in this one is more romance-focused while the other drama is more story-focused overall. If you're looking for a romance drama, I'd definitely recommend this one. If you're looking for an epic fantasy, I'd probably recommend the other one : )

I think the story is where this drama loses a little bit of its appeal for me. It's definitely a great story and worth watching, with fewer plot holes than my favorites and also including the most compelling romance of all. Yet, I do think the plot sacrifices some of its complexity for the sake of the romance, and there aren't as many arcs/ideas as I typically enjoy. Nevertheless, it's one of the best Xianxia's out there. I'd compare this plot to maybe 'the Untamed' in terms of how much it explores iykwim- it's not completely idea-jam-packed but definitely has enough of them to keep you watching. However, the romance is the best executed I've seen, so for the fantasy-romance lovers, you'll enjoy this. Like many others, I did find the ending rushed, but I guess the directors had ten minutes to serve up something happy for the sweet romance lovers...

Either way, this is a beautiful and well-rounded drama overall. It's enjoyable for I'd think all audiences and definitely takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions (WARNING: also fries your brain for maybe a week).

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Basically a cute dumpster fire

I think most students learn to write summary statements for stories in elementary/secondary school, if I recall correctly; sadly, this one would be unbearably difficult to write one for. Perhaps it's the poor writing, or the combination of fluff scenes with no intention/purpose whatsoever and a typical, overdone romance plot... or is it the absolute empty-headedness behind each and every one of the supposedly intelligent characters? Regardless, these factors make for a drama with a storyline held together by a single thread and simply not worth watching.

Where do I even start? Ah, maybe the characters that are so easily contemptible...

The FL has got to be one of the most braindead characters I have ever seen. Going into the drama's first few episodes, admittedly, I was pretty interested in her- what's not to like about a smart, strong, bubbly, yet ambitious female lead? With most C-dramas portraying the FLs as weaker, cutesy (at best), and mellow (not that there's anything wrong with that), this one was a promising change of pace where the FL (Zheng Shu Yi) chased the ML and established herself in a difficult career... but oh. OH. Now, we're flopping. By episode 26, ZSY became absolutely unbearable. She did not represent any love or affection, loyalty or caring, etc. towards the male lead more so than a warning against all male audience members against similar women (oh, the woe). She ended up going out a couple times with another man during the 'break-up, cold shoulder stage of all C-dramas that we just can't do without apparently', who she knew harbored romantic interest for her. But of course, we have the ML to love her despite all her brainlessness and lack of morality...

The ML, Shi Yan, could easily be the subject of a tragic love story- one of unrequited love. While you could say some of the relationship faults (communication, etc.) were his, he probably didn't deserve what he got from the naive female lead. Furthermore, his lack of personality and development just did not make him stand out... at this point I remember only that he's quite good-looking and one of those 'tsundere' (in anime terms) characters that pop up here and there.

With that being said, the side characters do manage to salvage the show. The second lead couple is cute and depicted realistically, and over time, I just wanted more screen time for them and less for the main pairing. This one's worth watching, especially to get to know the lesser known female actress who does a beautiful job portraying the bubbly, warm, and affectionate Qin Shi Yue.

I guess that's about it for the characters. Moving on the story, it was more of a culmination of fluff scenes (with no real purpose in the development of the characters' relationships) and every dumpster-fire trope (love triangles, distrust, break-up and then back together, etc.) that's ever existed. It's not really worth paying attention to, and beyond the love story, there isn't much to explain about the story. It's not particularly memorable, either... actually, it's just pretty terrible. The holes and lack of logic is too much for even me (who fills in most logical gaps for shows because I notice them easily).

BUT, this drama does have a saving grace.

To those who love an eye-candy main pairing and cute scenes, some of the scenes are cute enough to watch separate from the drama and the two lead actors do a great job for what they're given. Bai Lu's wonderful (as always) and Wang Hedi portrayed Shi Yan handsomely (though it's not like I couldn't imagine another actor doing the job). The 2nd leads were wonderful as well (Shen Yu Jie particularly), and I would definitely look to find more of her shows.

The music isn't bad either, and reminds me of the typical modern-drama music. Nothing special about it, but definitely nothing bad either. The lyrics are pretty cute for what it's worth and the songs are not absolutely terrible to listen to : )

So, to conclude this long review (hopefully not to boring), you should watch this only if you like cute scenes between two very charming actors. Or, if you watch just the beginning episodes, it's bound to be nice. But if you want a drama that you remember until the end of time, or one with beautiful writing, or one with a realistic, logical love story, please, PLEASE do not watch this. There are better things to spend your time on.

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Your daily reminder to watch TTEOTM : D

I've seen a lot of C-dramas. A lot of them are quite bad, and a lot of them are mediocre, and rarely do I stumble across what I find (subjectively) to be a gem: TTEOTM is one of those rare findings, with its interconnected storylines, immense number of jam-packed ideas (everything, everywhere, all at once), and superb acting... also I watched this directly after some widely liked dramas such as 'Love Between Fairy and Devil' and 'Hidden Love', so you could say I'm picking this one out from a set of some of the 'better ones.' I would advise you to stop reading here and start watching, but the review so far doesn't do anything to convince anyone. Let's dive into it a little:

FIRST, start with the ACTING.

It's magnificent. In a sense, there are dramas where one good actor carries the show, and interactions between the characters (what netizens call chemistry) is pretty lacking. Luckily, TTEOTM not only avoids those pitfalls but puts on quite the show; in fact, I'd argue the acting is so great that you could just watch Luo Yunxi (ML) and Bai Lu (FL) stand next to each other on a computer-generated battlefield for forty episodes and be reasonably moved.

As for individual actors, the star of the show is still Luo Yunxi. He plays half-a-dozen characters quite literally (Tantai Jin / Ming Ye / Devil God / Old Devil God / Cang Jiumin / Tantai Jin Devil God) and manages to make all of them distinctive and memorable. With a variety of expressive postures and gestures, his work here is definitely the best I've ever seen in a C-drama. The death glares from the beginning to the resignation at some points is all magnificently done, and for the record, I've seen a variety of heroes and villains portrayed by various actors- none quite make you feel the plethora of emotions and storyline as deeply as Luo Yunxi here in TTEOTM. It's not just tears shed for a simple but tragic storyline (which happens often, I find), but hollowness and internal conflict upon learning of his childhood, fear when watching the terror he manages to inflict as the Devil God, and contentedness/sweetness for his portrayal of Cang Jiumin (very, VERY much loves the FL). The distinctiveness of the characters he plays, I believe, even edges out Dylan Wang's Dongfang Qing Cang by far... a feat difficult to achieve as Dylan played a spectacular 'devil god' in Love Between Fairy and Devil.

Bai Lu's acting is always very pleasant and charming to watch, and I find her to make cute scenes even 'cuter.' I do think the personalities she plays are somewhat similar and representative of her true personality (to an extent), so the performance does not stick out to me that much... it's definitely great though considering the fact that it's Bai Lu and I love to watch works in her repertoire. Second leads such as Sun Zhen Ni (plays Pian Ran, a charming and flirtatious female fox devil) and Chen Duling (plays the antagonistic character that's kind of a plot twist... not really) portray their characters exceptionally well too, creating a sort of connection between them and the viewer.

SECOND, the STORYLINE.

Going into C-dramas, I have a sort of resignation towards finding an actually logical plot with good execution, so instead I look for a culmination of creative ideas/concepts. If you're one of the people who watch for logical behaviors, etc., I might warn you against this drama. It does have its fair share of strange plot holes especially towards the end and offers relatively questionable explanations for the reason things play out as they do. You might have to fill in your own gaps, and to me that's okay when watching a show simply due to my expectations (if I wanted to see something logical, I'd just neighbor-spy).

But I don't think that should deter you from watching, to be honest. The number of different arcs/storylines in this drama can be a lot to digest, but I think they're all meaningful and used properly. It's also the reason this drama is so great. None of it is fluff for the sake of fluff (the story does not sacrifice itself for the sake of a romance) or unimportant to the ultimate missions that face the characters.... it has a place in explaining the development and history of the setting (World-Turning Jade is an interesting twist), cleverly developing the relationships between characters (Ming Ye/ Sang Jiu is very important, imo) and furthering the plot/story. The way a lot of loose ends are introduced and ultimately tied back together towards the ending of the drama is masterfully done, so much so that the few logical errors/predictable behaviors of characters are forgivable (subjectively). There are just so many creative and inspirational concepts and ideas in this drama that deviate from the typical, predictable 'steam-engine-moves-forward-and-only-forward' storylines. It reminds me, truly, of 'Everything, Everywhere, All at Once'- which had its fair share of plot holes and possibly a slightly simpler plot than this (also more modern, to point out the obvious). I really appreciate the writers and original author of the novel for creating such a piece; most C-dramas need something more complex to show for, and they need that to an immense degree. Nothing is sacrificed for the story here.

I do think the character development for all the characters (even relatively minor ones) is really impressively done. Of course the focus is on Tantai Jin, but when we see even Ye Xiwu's older brother (so called coward) fight for the sake of his nation and people towards the end makes you realize that everyone really has an arc. Despite some repetitive, predictable, toxic behaviors of certain characters, the justifications for their motives typically make enough sense for me to accept given their individual personalities. I also appreciate the basic intelligence given to the characters which is way too rare in C-Dramas.

Finally, unlike many others, I appreciated the sad ending, thinking it's reasonable for how the ending developed. Otherwise, the ending would be pretty rushed, and that may not be to be the story's further. You could make it romantic with Tantai Jin's return... but I don't really get the point. It ended in an organic way rather than something really 'forced', and served as a conclusion to what I think is a story more than a set of scenes.

LASTLY, the OST:
Zhang Lei's First Time Loving was the star for me (I recommend it)... in general, it's a decent soundtrack, but not the best I've ever heard. I do think the accompaniment in certain scenes was done really well.

EXTRANEOUS THINGS:
- Maybe a little lighter on the makeup, especially the red lipstick on Tantai Jin...
- Beautiful outfits and well-done CGI... you could watch this just for the fight scenes

Please do watch this, it's one of the best C-dramas I've seen thus far in terms of ideas and acting : )

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Please, please don't judge this one by the rating...

The trolls and haters are at it again- they've successfully degraded this show to a 7.8 rating for honestly pretty minuscule reasons. Yet, sitting yourself down and understanding why the characters are the way they are- watching this show for what it was intended to be by the screenwriters- will leave you pretty impressed. Here's a brief rundown of all the things that seem controversial about the show:

1. THE MOM. Got to start with the FL's mom, and honestly, I think some of the viewers misunderstand her role here. If not for her misguided antics, MCH would never have found the incentive to seek her own path and independence. The obstacles that the mom places in front of MCH ultimately help her grow and become her own person, the ENTIRE POINT of this drama. Secondly, the mom sadly does reflect some realities; MCH's family lives in stifling poverty. Mothers in those states will do whatever it takes to 'do the best for their child', often ignoring basic rationality (see Mrs. Bennett from Pride and Prejudice). I Yet, throughout the drama, she's anticipated to grow, and the funeral of the grandmother does foreshadow the learning curve the mom could achieve throughout the show. Also, the actress plays her SO SO well; you feel the annoyance, the anger, and the irrationality, but also the love she clearly has for her family and children.

If you can't get past the mom, that's fine. But for future viewers hesitant because of the skewed rating, I don't think it's too bad at all. Certainly, the mom is much better than Professor Umbridge in Harry Potter and similar to Song Qian in 'A Little Reunion' (also so good; definitely recommend it).

2. XU KAI'S LACK OF SCREEN-TIME. I like Xu Kai like everyone else here, but I truly think his character has appeared where it is needed and not too many other places. Sure, you could argue that YZM needs more appearances, but I think his character development has been fine as well as the fact that other characters such as the grandma and MCH do keep me entertained.
For those watching only for Xu Kai, I understand some disappointment- you don't see too much of him until post episode 16 or so.

3. THE LACK OF ROMANCE. This drama was not intended to be a full-on romance rather than a realistic family story, and I think it accomplishes its goals. Its characters are realistic and portrayed beautifully by the actors and actresses (especially the grandma, mom and MCH- this is Yang Zi's magnum opus). Objectively speaking, I think this drama has been better than the vast majority of romances I've watched in many aspects from realism to character development. It is a truly slow-burn though, so for romance-chasers, this MAY NOT be for you, and that's totally okay.

BUT, why would I write such a long review and urge everyone to watch it regardless?

1. THE CHARACTERS. They are written so, so well, especially MCH (FL character). Unlike other dramas obsessed with adding lines like, "She's so smart and pretty," into the script, this drama SHOWS and doesn't TELL. Mai Chenghuan is the only truly strong female lead I have seen throughout all the shows I have watched that is realistic and mature in her actions. She will get over herself and help others, she stands up for herself, and has her flaws (which she acknowledges and grows from). Truly, she is my FAVORITE female protagonist in any drama I've seen so far. Her character dips more than a toe into the water; the script does a wonderful job. Also, YZM, the ML, isn't just a cold, rich boss. He has a backstory and a development arc- kind of rare in C-dramas.

2. THE ACTING. So, so good. There's literally no need to mention it when you've seen it, but Yang Zi's attempts to hold back tears at the funeral (so realistic) and her flustered-ness arguing with Xu Kai really resemble MCH and build together a cohesive character. Other support characters are wonderful too; I'm not even a super-fan of any of these cast members but this drama has made me look for their other projects.

3. THE LESSONS. This is not just a story. It's a huge master-class on how to live life, especially from Grandma (cool character actually). Beyond the humorous and sad moments and everything in between, the lessons learned by each of the characters do translate to real life and make logical sense to me (doesn't happen a lot in dramas).

Overall, I thought I'd leave this review here. Otherwise, too many people would miss out over 'the mom', 'no Xu Kai,' etc; they would miss out on what's a genuine story- sadly far too rare these days.

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Like a sampler... just a foot in the water is fine

I don't have too much to say as I ultimately dropped this drama since the pacing was a little slow/I didn't really care for the story. Nevertheless, I do understand its merit and think that there is a population that will enjoy this drama. If you care for mature, realistic, slow-burn romances, this one is probably for you. If you care for great acting, this is for you too.

I came mostly to just talk about the acting a little. It's fantastic for what it's worth. Xiao Zhan has improved tremendously since I last saw him (I've seen him in, 'The Untamed' and 'The Oath of Love') . His acting has become more and more natural, and it's a pleasure to watch a promising young actor like him. Nothing seems forced, everything seems done right to where it needs to be... it's really wonderful because there's a vitality and spring to it that's difficult to see elsewhere. Just to watch his acting, I'd take a brief look into this show. Bai Baihe was really the star- it's the first time I've seen her, and she's tremendous. Natural, organic, and inspired in her acting, she's definitely the best female lead I've ever seen I daresay. Though she didn't have dramatic scenes, I don't think she needed them for the acting to work; simply micro expressions and her eyes would do.

The acting is really the thing that made me come here : ) Just take a look and you'd see it too. As for whether you like it or not, I think it's rather subjective.

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Sweet, light, cheesy, and everything the drama intended to accomplish

This drama was very light and sweet... to the extent that every now and then I got goosebumps from the cheesiness :) All else aside, this was definitely an easy, joyful watch. As other reviews note, there's a notable lack of toxicity, reality, and cynicism from this drama, so it's one of the light + sweet watches that you get every now and then. The leads and supporting characters are all delightful, and it's very well-written pacing/story wise. For the most part, scenes make sense and you don't get the inclination to skip them because they're so wholesome.

The story's very simple and basic, and there isn't really much to say. Nevertheless, it was executed beautifully and wholesomely. I do want to say to those more sensitive to 'questionable romantic lines' in the script, there are some very, VERY cheesy lines in this drama. In an interview/fan event, I think Zhao Lusi noted that this script gave her goosebumps while filming more than any other script. That being said, it's not cringy in a 'everything happened as a coincidence and none of this makes any sense' way, but rather in a 'this is very sappy and sweet lol' way. Do note that it started dragging a little around episode 18, though most of the drama does flow smoothly along.

The acting and 'chemistry' (as they say) is on point. Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan are wonderful together. I've watched a lot by Zhao Lusi, and she definitely does a great job but never struck me as something spectacular. However, this character really brought out her acting, and she's definitely grown so much! Chen Zheyuan played a very charming, heartthrob Duan Jiaxu : ) Everything played out very naturally and beautifully thanks to the great acting. I'm not sure how much there is to portray many times in non-tragic dramas, but you could see the items here were done very well.

The music I didn't enjoy as many others, but I know many really enjoy the OST especially 'Forever Star'. So it might be something to look forward to too~

Overall, sweet drama that's a good break from all the 'over-dramatic' dramas, iykwim. I'd definitely recommend watching it.

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