Superwoman on Steroids
LI Ye, the FL in this series, is skilled at swordsmanship and martial arts, knowledgeable of court etiquette & manners, knows accounting and how to run a business. And did I mention she’s drop dead gorgeous? She knows all about herbs and Chinese medicine, and how to perform acupuncture. She can predict an eclipse, (because she knows astronomy). She paints as well as a Chinese master (dragon). She can create magical illusions, and knows how to design and build a wheelchair, (ep.32). She has excellent social skills, knows how to psychologically manipulate people, and she can whip up a meal of bamboo shoots and mushrooms in the middle of nowhere. Plus she’s acquired all these skills in spite of being completely isolated with no human companionship for 8 years. Also, she’s a little bit crazy.All this makes her about as believable as Superwoman, although Superwoman had an excuse...
She was an extraterrestrial.
Several men are in love with Li Ye, including her underwhelming husband who (at the outset) has about as much verve and charm as a banana slug. But I have to admit that first impressions aren’t everything. This dude is kind, reliable, understanding, and an altogether stand up guy–although we don’t find this out for awhile. Turns out he’s not so bad in the martial--or marital--arts department either.
As others have mentioned, this series really sloooows down in the last 10 to 15 episodes., during which the ML has to play therapist to the FL. The music is OK, though unbelievably repetitious.
What’s absolutely stunning, though, are the costumes and jewelry, which give the viewers somewhere to focus if their eyes are glazing over with all the convoluted politics.
Villains seldom get any appreciation, but I really thought the actor who played Marquis Muyang--I believe it’s Calvin Yu-- did an outstanding job of making the character three dimensional (showing his love for his son, for example) and his body language in general was quite effective.
Well done, movie makers.
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Fantastic!
Well-written, elegant, and unpretentious.The writing, pacing, and (above all) the acting deliver some fine entertainment in this drama. But, sadly, we viewers have to wade through some tired tropes and overused plot devices to get to the good stuff. More about that in a moment.
Why is everyone wearing mostly black and white in this drama? Apparently that seems to be the fashion in Korean work culture these days. And you can see why--black stands for simplicity, elegance, formality–and conformity.
On a more granular level, Ju In-A is a monochrome kind of person–acting in deference to the company logic–at least that’s how it seems at first. The corporate culture at Haemu strives to control every aspect of each employee’s behavior, stifling everything unconventional, quirky, and human.
But there’s another side to Ju In A–and we see it most clearly when Noh Ki-jun discovers her somewhat unconventional hobby. This black and white woman begins to turn into a fully fleshed out human being (pun intended).
Shin Hye Sun reveals all the nuances of Ju In-A’s character little by little. Noh Ki-jun is a wonderful partner in this transition. They play off each other better than any two leads I’ve seen in recent dramas.
My only complaint is the succession of banalities that even a drama as excellent as this one seems to feel it necessary to display.
If I see one more prefabricated plot element, where, for example, the ML tries to hook a toy with a mechanical claw for the FL or shows he cares by applying a bandage to a wound you can’t see without a magnifying glass--or someone in a drunken stupor has to be carted home by someone else with a secret crush on that person--I swear I’ll call the cliche police.
Other than that–good work!
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An ambitious drama--with logic problems
Many reviewers call this drama: “incredible,” “superb,” “top notch,” “amazing,” “masterful,” “flawless,” and every other superlative you can think of.A different group says that this drama is: “confusing,” “mediocre,” “over-hyped,” “terrible,” “pretentious,” “tedious,” “disappointing,” and “a disaster.”
So which is it? I feel a like an alien from Mars trying to mediate between two warring tribes of humans. Truthfully, the praise seems waay over the top. On the other hand, a lot of the criticism seems...let’s just say –- a bit mean-spirited.
THE LENGEND OF ZANG HAI, like most dramas, has its strengths and its weaknesses.
What I liked:
1. The plot held my interest. Occasionally, I had to stop and backtrack to figure out who was doing what and for what reason. But the writers kept the complications in hand so that I never lost the overall thread.
2. And how refreshing it was to have the main guy fight with his frontal lobes and not with his fists. I loved that!
3. Some very satisfying twists and turns. For example, I liked the fact that the second son of the Marquis is introduced as a lightweight party-boy. And then, in a totally delightful scene, he turns out to be someone else entirely. Well done, writers.
4. The production quality, sets, and cinematography were outstanding. The artifacts and furnishings looked like the real deal--not like cheap schlock bought in a secondhand junk store (which has sometimes been the case with other dramas).
What could have been improved:
1. Why did everyone keep risking their lives to get their hands on the Gui Seal without any real inkling of what it was all about? Or what its drawbacks might be?
2. The FL’s role in this drama confused me. In the beginning, she was coy and childish–keeping the ML waiting for hours while she primped and fussed with her clothes and hair. Later, she arbitrarily tried to retrieve a coin she’d just given him, although this impulsive behavior endangered his life. It’s true she eventually turned into a serious partner and valuable ally. But by then, I was more than a little put off by her.
In addition, she did some unbelievable things. Would a bright, capable, well-established business woman really agree to kill a powerful, high-ranking leader in the community, even one she didn’t like, just to please some dude she’d met once or twice? She hardly knew the ML at the time. Was she already that smitten? It didn’t make sense.
3. The ML wasn’t totally logical either. For example, everything depended on his ability to keep his mouth shut regarding his true identity and motivation. Yet he blurted out the truth to one person or another. At one point, he persuaded himself that the FL was involved in the murder of his family, in spite of the fact that she was only 10 years old at the time! He explained this suspicion by declaring that “children are sometimes underestimated” by adults!
And how is it that our 20-year-old ML was an expert in so many areas: plants, astronomy, architecture, feng shui, weather, woodworking, joinery, etc.?
Things always seemed to work out for ZH. Whenever there was a person to be manipulated or a plan to be carried out, ZH showed an extraordinary ability to predict everyone’s behavior. Even Superman couldn’t have performed so well.
His incredible luck made his successes seem unearned. Too many times, some arbitrary person or event would come along and solve ZH’s problems for him–that is, keep him from being poisoned or murdered, or exposed.
I could forgive the writers using this device once or twice. But “deus ex machina” came to the rescue over and over. It was a bit much.
A few picky things:
1. Too many devastating fires in this series–or threats thereof.
2. Anachronistic subtitles. Nobody in ancient China would use the phrase “throw him under the bus.”
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Might Makes Right
What lesson is it that this series wants to teach? That to get ahead in life, we have to hit harder or run faster to escape the bullies–or find someone who can do it for us?That lesson is front and center in episodes one and two of TEACH YOU A LESSON.
There’s nothing in TEACH YOU A LESSON about learning for its own sake, or about the value of decency and empathy. Everyone in this drama, teachers, students, and parents, abides by the law--- the law of the jungle, that is, whether it’s at school or in the adult world of business and politics. Although similar in some ways to WEAK HERO (1,2), it’s much darker.
Here in the real world, we’re awash in dimwitted slogans, idiotic conspiracy theories, thought-terminating threats, and cliches playing the part of actual arguments.
Will beating up the bad guys make it all better? Should we stop doing the hard work of not giving in to our worst impulses?
For a lot of people, the answer seems to be–yes. Make your body into a fighting machine and throw your brain out the window. Let the nukes fly. Because it feels good to see everybody else get what they deserve.
Pretty simplistic...and it never works in the long run, in spite of what this series implies.
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Slow as a molasses factory run by sloths
It was a struggle to get to the end of this tepid series. The first few episodes showcased the slooooooww build up of the lethargic romance between the two leads. He looks at her. She glances at him. He looks at her again. He blinks. They’re alone in the office. He falls asleep and she touches his nose. She’s had too much to drink and she leans in, but will they kiss? No. Big nothing burger. The director thinks it’s an amazing scene, so they show it twice. Then the two leads experience the least exciting date I’ve ever seen in a Korean drama–a piano recital!Lots of shots of the deserted office at night with one or the other leads or both of them working diligently. They enjoy lots of meals/snacks together, and product placement proliferates. A certain Korean candy bar takes center stage three times. It’s name is forever burned into my psyche.
At Episode Seven, the writers wake up and realize that there’s not much emotional tension in this series, so they throw in a contrived complication. She weeps. He holds her. Will this non-tragedy drive our two lovers apart?
Nope. Back to business as usual. Meanwhile, the insipid dialogue deserves an award for pointlessness: “What’s your favorite weather?” “Did you ever day-drink before?” Another couple exclaim over the fact that they’re both wearing the same style of shoes.
Finally, toward the end, the evil villain makes a move. Now there’s actually a conflict of sorts. But it’s too late. The audience (well, some of us anyway) has been bored into oblivion.
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Goes down like the Titanic....
...but at least the Titanic had a band.MY DEMON is a series with no organizing theme. Is it about the migrating tattoo? A would-be killer on the loose? A dysfunctional family drama? What we get is a number of false starts that lead nowhere. It feels like too many writers were pulling this mess in different directions.
Hey, everybody--your homework is to read the green DEMON'S MANUAL. The rules keep changing, but it's got to be in there. Here's the question: Can demons be shot and killed--or not?
The attraction between the two leads is all about physical appearance. These generic lovers do generic things: he brings her flowers, they watch a horror movie, they ride a bike, she cooks, etc. Etc. I couldn't find any convincing individuality-or chemistry. In fact, it sure looked like Song Kang used his hand to block their first kiss.
And Do-Hee isn't the brightest cookie in the jar. It takes until Episode 14 for her to show the slightest curiosity about her husband's day job. She's horrified, of course, but she sure gets over it quickly. "Oh, you take the souls of desperate people who are then tortured forever? And one of them’s my dad? No problemo."
And I'm sorry--because I really like him-Song Kang is totally miscast as a demon. For most of the series he's sweet and loving or having a fashion moment. He's just not the baddy the audience deserves. I blame the writers because Song Kang can ACT when he's got a good script (see Navillera).
The secondary characters engage in a lot of silliness that never adds up to a single genuinely funny moment. As for God, s/he just bloviates about all the things she can't do. No help there, though I have a feeling she'll come through in the end.
Later: I finished the series, and while a lot of the silly stuff was wrapped up, I can't see that anything important was resolved. A minor character is going to be damned for all eternity--someone who absolutely didn't deserve it. But no one in this series has a moral compass, so no one cares--as long as the big romance is saved. A lot of filler in the last two episodes. I was so ready for this one to end.
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Half-time check in--plus final assessment
Having now watched all episodes of PURSUIT OF JADE, I have to agree that–although in places this story is unbelievable, and certainly brutal--it’s one of the most entertaining and original Chinese dramas of the year.What I like:
1. There are certain cliches that pop up in Asian dramas again and again. This series has fewer of those than almost any drama I’ve seen up to this point. The slight, skinny FL is no helpless victim. If anything, she’s almost unbelievably strong and assertive. I said “almost” because, well, I questioned a couple of her physical feats. But I suspended my disbelief for the sake of the overall narrative, which never flags.
2. Speaking of the plot, it’s unusual for me to be so engrossed in the action that I have a problem turning off the TV when my own life is calling. That’s how this drama affected me–it’s utterly absorbing.
3. The originality of the plot, the physical details of the house and yard, plus other visuals frame the story in a way that adds authenticity. For example, the uneven and ramshackle fences that encircle the Fan house looked altogether real (I looked them up–and, yes, rural fences do sometimes look like that).
4. The way the impoverished villagers help each other out, the malicious gossip, even the slaughtering of the pigs–all contributed to the overall credibility. The main characters, and many of the minor ones, are appealing and likeable. The plot is succinct. If there’s any filler in the first 23 episodes, I couldn’t find it.
5. Some of the visuals are clever–others are downright stunning–for example the scene where the camera follows the white hawk as it soars through the clouds. (AI generated, of course.) Still, it’s breathtaking.
6. Delightful little touches like the ML sneezing when his wife and teacher each sing his praises without either realizing that they’re talking about the same dude. (In East Asian cultures, many believe that sneezing indicates that someone is talking about you behind your back.)
A few difficulties--
1. Suffice it to say that this story is brutal in places. You probably shouldn’t watch it with young children. There are a few graphic sequences where a pig is slaughtered, or at least seems to go unconscious before its killed–although we’re told that “no animals were harmed in this episode.” In another scene, a young child is psychologically tormented.
2. The political machinations were too convoluted, and culture specific, for me to follow. Luckily viewers don’t need to understand the details to understand who the villains are–and who’s trying to off whom.
3. I counted four times in the first 23 episodes that the ML was out of commission because of injuries sustained in a fight–and I might have missed a few. Too repetitious for a drama that mostly avoids this kind of overkill.
4. It’s usually a good idea not to confuse the actor with the character he plays. Linghe Zhang has been criticized--I’d say unfairly--as being a bit subdued and tepid in his role as the ML. That’s how the character is written, folks. Zheng Xie is supposed to be a serious man with heavy responsibilities.
If you want to see the same actor’s wild, zany side, watch his performance as Changheng in LOVE BETWEEN FAIRY AND DEVIL, especially the sequence where he’s been reincarnated as a fun-loving mortal.
LATER–I’ve now seen all episodes. We spend much of the second half of this drama in the company of people who are basically trying to shiv one another. Also, the English subtitles were sometimes a bit muddled and incoherent.
If I were a foot soldier putting my life on the line for the Marquis of Wu'an, I might be a tad annoyed that he spends so much energy on the vicissitudes of his love life--instead of figuring out how he’s going to defeat the bad guys. At one point, he even recruits his underlings to create a performance to trick the FL...
Villains in C-dramas seldom get their due. So I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the magnetic, sultry presence of Deng Kai who plays the role of Qi Min, in a way that makes the character both compelling and horrific.
NOTE to those still watching PURSUIT OF JADE–or are about to begin it:
If you want to promote quality cinema in China please boycott pirated versions. The people responsible for this fine production deserve to profit from it. Each decision, each costume, the ost, and everything about this drama shows the care and artistry that were poured into it. Any discerning viewer can see it. Please make sure you’re viewing it through legitimate outlets, so that the original director and producers can recoup their considerable investment. (Just to be clear--I have no connection with the company who made PURSUIT OF JADE.)
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Disjointed
The pacing and execution seem off in the first few episodes of this series. While energetic and likable, the FL is something of a scam artist. She looks like a 14-year-old and those around her call her “child.” It’s hard to take her seriously, at this point, because she gasps, shrieks, and overacts whenever anything unexpected happens. Other characters posture, simper, and exaggerate as well.The CGI is jerky, disjointed, and hard to follow, and the nine-tailed fox is especially crude. He looks like someone threw red paint on him. I should note that he changes sizes and appearance throughout the drama, even becoming human at one point.
The ML is surly and unfriendly and keeps trying to kill the FL (he’s actually after the nine-tailed fox), while she keeps giving him a pass. For all these reasons, I don’t have a lot of hope for this series. But I’ve learned not to judge based on first impressions–so we’ll see.
Episodes 5 thru 8. There are still problems with the plot, the execution and the characterization in these episodes. Overweight characters are either evil or function as comic relief.
The background is often way too blurry, sometimes I can’t tell a tree from a bush. The “exams” don’t make a whole lot of sense. What’s being tested–other than martial arts?
One of the “exams” consists of a life-sized game of Go, but the rules aren’t explained. Everyone just suddenly finds him- or herself on a huge game board. The female lead is imbued with a “fragrance” that drives the ML crazy. He doesn’t seem to know whether he wants to kill her, marry her, or bite her neck.
This series certainly isn’t boring, but it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense either. Shanhua was hanging by a thread in Episode 1, on the edge of death. And now it’s days, if not weeks, later. Apparently he’s still hanging.
In Episode 8, the romance is front and center. Once again, the ML puts his life on the line to save the FL. Is this the sixth time? Or the seventh?
***********************
Episodes 9 through 16. The background is less blurry, and the story has improved somewhat. I wish I could say the same for the ML. This dude is still a pit of negativity with no hobbies, no interests, and no friends. Every once in awhile, his irises turn amber which is a sign to the viewers that he’s experiencing demonic (lascivious) impulses. Otherwise we’d have to depend on his acting to clue us in--which would be a real shame because he doesn’t do nuance well.
He’s pretty cute, though, so he gets away with it.
Speaking of getting away with it, our FL has a few issues of her own. When it’s time for the various sects to select their future disciples, on what basis do they decide her fate? Is it her grade point average? Her level of cultivation? The guys who do the choosing apparently take two things into consideration. First, they all think she’s pretty cute. But the number one reason is–she can cook! Of course she can--especially radishes.
Later
Ninety percent of this series seems to be devoted to two issues: 1) the fact that so many characters, both major and minor, are in love with someone who doesn’t love them back–and we all know what a tragedy that can be, and 2) the ongoing conflict between humans and demons, the latter often appearing as hairy monsters with bad wigs in makeshift Halloween costumes. The handsome and impressive actor, Chen Zheyuan, appears in Episodes 21 and 22–playing the role of an evil baddy. Little things like that keep me going.
Still later
I’m dropping this series. It’s just too tedious and repetitious–even though both the ML and FL have changed for the better in significant ways. The ML now seems to be something of a team player. Previously, the ML and the SML got along like two wasps in a jam jar, but now the ML is actually working alongside the SML to defeat the enemy.
The so-called “masters” have shown poor judgment and lack of discernment at every turn. Too much squabbling and carrying on about nonsense from everyone.
Movie makers, if you don’t mind, I’d like to make a suggestion. Next time you decide to hire two directors to work together on a romance, make sure that one of them is a female. I understand that 80 percent of your viewers are women, but at times the female perspective was poorly represented in this drama.
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Entertaining and fast-moving
This drama held my interest and entertained me, but didn't impress me deeply as much as the last three Chinese dramas I’ve watched---GUI DUI aka THE LONG WAY BACK, THIS THRIVING LAND, and TWELVE LETTERS. They were all impressive.FATED HEARTS moved along briskly, with little or no dithering---a rarity in Chinese and Korean dramas. At times the story went off the rails and didn't make sense---the emperor trying to goad his favorite son into killing him, for example. Or when two people were pierced by swords--- swords that not only penetrated their bodies, but came out the other side--and they both lived to tell the tale. (I guess they were only flesh wounds?) And, last but not least, TWO cases of amnesia.
I've complained in previous reviews about Chinese dramas infantalizing women. But this drama reverses that trend. The women out-fight, out-argue, and out-maneuver the men. Whenever love is on the horizon, the woman involved declares her feelings first. Whenever two men are at each other's throats (or one of them is acting like a spoiled brat) the designated woman will jump in, speak the truth, and often solve the problem.
The main FL is one tough cookie. At first, she's grim and tense, even with her kids---whom she's always scolding. When we meet her, she's battling threats from every direction. But couldn't the writers have given her a few moments of peace or playfulness? As it is, she's a fairly rigid, one-note character---until she finally begins to loosen up, about ten or twelve episodes into the series.
At that point, she, takes charge and gives wise counsel to the sensitive and somewhat traumatized First Prince. I don't mean to imply that First Prince can't hold his own---he definitely can---and he does whenever challenged.
The First Prince's mother, we find out in a flashback, was another outspoken, early feminist---until someone ran her through with a sword (and, with no magical medicine available, she died). His sister is also a strong woman, although it takes awhile for us to see that side of her.
Most of the male characters in this series are either physically incapacitated (poisoned, crippled), weaklings (Second Prince), or dealing with past trauma (First Prince, plus his so-called best friend). Man up, guys! The women are way ahead of you.
The platform I watched this on kept intermingling the words of the background songs with the subtitles, so I had to work hard to follow the dialogue, especially during intimate moments. Someone needs to fix this.
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A breath of fresh air
An intelligent, well-conceived K-drama. It’s so nice to see a FL depicted as a mature, no-nonsense professional. Even though she has a few quirks and a lighter side, the FL maintains her integrity and dignity throughout.The ML, has a messier life. But he, too, comes across as a fully formed human being.
As for the acting, both leads display a range of emotions through subtle expressions and body language that add depth and nuance to their characters.
Only the best actors can keep this up without missing a beat. These two pull it off with skill and consistency. Luckily, they’re helped along by a well-written, polished script and excellent camera work. Really liked it.
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Best drama series of 2026--so far
I’m not quick to give 10 stars to just any drama. But LOVE STORY IN THE 1970S earned each and every one of them. This beautifully rendered production reminded me, once again, of what’s special about Chinese drama at its best. A well-directed, well-acted series such as this one can be heartfelt, and unpretentious in a way that Hollywood concoctions seldom are.I so appreciate the performance of the two leads, but especially Arthur Chen. What a treat to see him play a real, multi-layered character, using the total arsenal of his craft. And even nicer to see him give up filters and other visual enhancements to fully inhabit the role of Muyang Fang, a normal, good-hearted human being.
Simplicity is the secret that makes this drama a winner. No silly tantrums. No jealousy or manufactured mis-communication. Just real people trying to solve real problems in an authentically rendered historical context.
Nor is the FL drop-dead gorgeous. Instead she’s emotionally alive, radiant, and devoid of superficial flash. The actress who plays the repressed, robotic Mujing Fang is also noteworthy, communicating a world of feeling with the tiniest gesture or change of expression. And I especially enjoyed watching the hilariously clueless Ye Feng.
There’s injustice in this drama, but it’s everyday injustice that most of us have to face from time to time. Not a single narcissistic psychopath to be found.
This is the best drama of 2026–so far.
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Wasn't engaging
I was OK with the crazy pranks for the first half of the drama. I didn’t find the hijinks particularly hilarious. But some of it was imaginative--although the FL exaggerated to the point of tedium.Unfortunately the story started to drag in the second half. The stakes were high, someone was in mortal danger–yet everyone stood around bloviating.
At that point, one of the team members did something so horrible that it completely undermined my investment in this drama, such as it was. I felt betrayed, and I lost interest in the entire story–not just the character involved. I could no longer enjoy the antics.
The writers tried to come back from that particular ploy by rationalizing the behavior and trying to rehabilitate that person. But it didn’t work for me. Sorry. Your mileage may differ.
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Extraordinary Drama
This amazing Chinese drama---one of the best of 2025---stars Hu Jun in the role of a platoon leader in the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army during the 14-year Second Sino-Japanese War.After his team is scattered, Hu Jun, as Lu Chang Shan, searches for each of them–-bringing them back together, one by one to continue their mission to defeat the Japanese and reclaim their land.
I’m usually not a fan of war movies, but this drama is exceptional. It’s never boring, and never repetitive---showing how individual human beings dealt with the challenges of food shortages, prison camps, cruelty, deprivation, and loss.
While there’s plenty of suffering, this drama is not a downer. It’s human, entertaining, and sprinkled throughout with good-natured banter. In fact, it’s mostly uplifting, depicting the best of human nature, as well as the worst. The camera work, the OST, and especially the acting is immensely moving and poignant.
Americans, as a whole, unfortunately, have almost no knowledge of the degree to which China suffered, but ultimately prevailed, in World War II. Even this drama barely scratches the surface. (For a more granular and depressing account of the unmitigated horrors of this conflict read The Rape Of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust Of World War II by Iris Chang.)
I can’t say enough good things about Hu Jun, who plays the heroic, but extremely kind and compassionate, Lu Chang Shan, a man who nurtures each member of his team as needed, and is also wiley and shrewd when necessary. Other actors who deserve respect for their portrayals are too numerous to mention–really, almost all of them.
I don’t often give praise like this. But this series is a triumph of Chinese cinema. Don’t miss it.
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Enjoyable
I didn’t think I’d finish this series, but, truth be told, it got better and better as it went along. The mournful Buddhist theme set against the many shots of the beautiful countryside gave the whole drama a rich, poignant feel. I liked and cared about the characters–the secondary ones as well as the main ones. The pacing worked for me, and the plot wasn’t overly complicated.But I do have a few nits to pick.
1. The continual use of crows as omens of evil and doom annoys me. This is a recurring problem in Chinese films (and in some western films too). Can we get away from this stereotype?
Everywhere crows have suffered at the hands of humans. They’ve been shot, snared with wire, tortured and murdered by the thousands, and they don’t deserve it. Crows are curious and incredibly intelligent animals.
Crow families work together to build nests. They show empathy and compassion and will help a friend or neighbor if they can. (Look up the research.) They’re not the evil demons they’re often portrayed as in series like this one. I’d like to see them catch a break with movie makers. Don’t give viewers a reason to persecute them. Please?
2. This drama was supposed to be a romance. Did the main couple even kiss? There was one scene of two shadows on a window screen coming together. That might have been a display of affection--or not. The “seduction” scene between the two second leads had all the warmth of a congealed blob of refried beans.
3. Now and then a character gave a speech that sounded like a sermon or something from Economics 101. For example, I didn’t mind that Mei Xin talked about the financial exploitation of the lower classes by the upper classes, but it went on and on and ON.
4. It was nice seeing Riley Wang in a different kind of role (serious Taoist cultivator), but there wasn’t much juice in that lemon. He didn’t smile once. I like Riley better when he plays a bad boy.
5. As for the ML, he was something of a cipher. His expression never changed, even when he was looking longingly at the FL. But as the story went on, he somehow found ways to express his feelings through subtle glances and gestures. I ended up really appreciating his toned-down character and the actor who played him.
Overall, entertaining and thought-provoking.
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A few problems
I’m not sure exactly what’s wrong with WHEN DESTINY BRINGS THE DEMON, but this drama just didn’t land for me–partly because it’s so simpleminded. For example, when the demon army invades the Grandmaster’s stronghold in ep. 20, the demon fighters are all dressed in black. The good guys are dressed in white. Pretty convenient.There are many parallels in this story with LOVE BETWEEN FAIRY AND DEVIL. There’s a dragon buddy in one, a snake buddy in the other. Fairies and demons fight each other in the first. Immortals and demons are at war in the second.
The female leads in each series are different. While Orchid is sometimes irritating in LBFAD, she’s also lovable, funny, and appealing, and she grows into a strong, impressive woman.
But the writers of WHEN DESTINY BRINGS THE DEMON infantilize Tingyan. She pouts and simpers and makes eyes at Jiao. Her goal is life is to eat, drink, and try on pretty clothes. It doesn’t hit home with her until about halfway through the series that her boy is a serial killer. Also, who is this woman? Is she a demon? a reincarnated human? or a fish?
What’s motivating the ML? Power? Revenge? The attainment of higher cultivation levels? Personal animus? The villains seem like a bunch of feckless, bungling clowns. It’s hard to take them seriously. Mostly they seem like a swarm of annoying insects buzzing around Jiao’s head. Every once in awhile he brushes them all away.
Arthur Chen as Sima Jiao is disarmingly handsome, but that’s not always an advantage for someone wanting to be taken seriously as an actor. His looks make him subject to everyone’s projections. Sima Jiao, is a pit of hatred, negativity and despair– in other words, a damaged soul.
The writers need to show us how someone who’s never known a kind word, can reach into his heart and find a boatload of self-sacrificing love for Liao Tingyan, a well-meaning, not-too-bright klutz. But character motivation is missing throughout. They don’t give Chen enough to work with, I’m sorry to say–so Sima Jiao’s transformation into Mr. Wonderful isn’t convincing. Or at least it wasn’t to me.
The comedy scenes in WDBTD are repetitious and not very funny. It’s cute that Liao Tingyan keeps using 21st century lingo and 9-to-5 work metaphors in her “employment” with her “boss,” but after the third or fourth time this device gets a little old.
The characters in this drama are always telling the viewers what’s happening: “Why isn’t the Grandmaster here? Looks like he’s figured out our plan.” Or, “If I can win the Grandmaster’s favor, perhaps I can help Mother through this crisis.” Weak writing.
The special effects and CG make many scenes seem low-budget.
My greatest wish for Arthur Chen is that he can find a substantial role that truly inspires him--maybe some kind of an eccentric character–a role that he can individualize and make his own. This drama doesn’t give him that.
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