JIABLO
This review may contain spoilers
I'd say the main leads managed to hold the drama together. Which is really rare on historical C-Dramas.
Story/Plot: The story revolves around the ill-fated love of Xu Feng (the second prince of the Heavenly Realm) and Jin Mi (the daughter of the former Flower Immortal). With their titles come the heavy history wrought in their very being. I'm not fond of their parent's history but then that made their ill-fate so tragic, I guess. Considering that the dramas was long (63 eps in all), I'd say the pace was just right. I was skeptical at first cause how the hell do you stretch a 24 chapters novel into a 60+ ep drama? But HSALF didn't disappoint at all. I love their light-hearted and innocent interactions at the beginning of the film. When they plunged into the mortal realm before ep 20, I thought it was too soon. But it was just the right timing. Saintess and Yaya's time as mortal was honestly a gem for feels. It didn't disappoint at all. Shout out to that very goth ending to their story. It was Beautiful.
Back in heaven, we are given a few more eps of fluff and downright intense encounter before they break our hearts. I'd usually think that the climax being around ep 44 is premature but as the drama has taught me early, it knows what its doing. It was hard watching both Xu Feng and Jin Mi break each other's heart but I reveled in all the angst they offered me. My heart broke whenever Jin Mi and Xu Feng said and did things to hurt one another. But it was all so worth it. I didn't even mind all the sub-plots. Liu Ying and Mu Ci's story was heart-warming. I'm glad to have known them. It was hard for me to watch Run Yu love Jin Mi. I wished he was given another love line in the end. After everything, the drama was just fantastic.
Acting/Cast: Yang Zi and Deng Lun delivered outstanding performances on portraying Jin Mi and Xu Feng and I cannot be more proud. They faced criticism when they were casted but in the end, I think no other couple could have captured and played Jin Mi and Xu Feng as well as they did. All the other cast didn't disappoint too. They were all amazing. Yan You and Run Yu deserves a shout out for helping both leads. I'd say the final episodes solidified Deng Lun's acting capabilities. I mean, Yang Zi was amazing too but Deng Lun had more to prove than her. I've seen Deng Lun in Princess Agents and Because of You and I think Xu Feng is his superior role out of them all (even if I haven't seen all his work).
Music: The BGM is to die for. It was so on point in every scene. I especially love that Deng Lun and Yang Zi sang an OST together (Frostless Heaven and Earth). Deng Lun sang it in solo too. And Yang Zi sang Love Frost and her voice was just mesmerizing. There are other notable songs too, Upwards to the Moon and Unsullied.
Rewatch Value: Definitely a must watch and a worthy binge-watch no matter how many times you've seen it. I'd really recommend it to friends who are starting out on C-Dramas. It was such an amazing experience for me that I'd really want others to understand how it felt.
Story/Plot: The story revolves around the ill-fated love of Xu Feng (the second prince of the Heavenly Realm) and Jin Mi (the daughter of the former Flower Immortal). With their titles come the heavy history wrought in their very being. I'm not fond of their parent's history but then that made their ill-fate so tragic, I guess. Considering that the dramas was long (63 eps in all), I'd say the pace was just right. I was skeptical at first cause how the hell do you stretch a 24 chapters novel into a 60+ ep drama? But HSALF didn't disappoint at all. I love their light-hearted and innocent interactions at the beginning of the film. When they plunged into the mortal realm before ep 20, I thought it was too soon. But it was just the right timing. Saintess and Yaya's time as mortal was honestly a gem for feels. It didn't disappoint at all. Shout out to that very goth ending to their story. It was Beautiful.
Back in heaven, we are given a few more eps of fluff and downright intense encounter before they break our hearts. I'd usually think that the climax being around ep 44 is premature but as the drama has taught me early, it knows what its doing. It was hard watching both Xu Feng and Jin Mi break each other's heart but I reveled in all the angst they offered me. My heart broke whenever Jin Mi and Xu Feng said and did things to hurt one another. But it was all so worth it. I didn't even mind all the sub-plots. Liu Ying and Mu Ci's story was heart-warming. I'm glad to have known them. It was hard for me to watch Run Yu love Jin Mi. I wished he was given another love line in the end. After everything, the drama was just fantastic.
Acting/Cast: Yang Zi and Deng Lun delivered outstanding performances on portraying Jin Mi and Xu Feng and I cannot be more proud. They faced criticism when they were casted but in the end, I think no other couple could have captured and played Jin Mi and Xu Feng as well as they did. All the other cast didn't disappoint too. They were all amazing. Yan You and Run Yu deserves a shout out for helping both leads. I'd say the final episodes solidified Deng Lun's acting capabilities. I mean, Yang Zi was amazing too but Deng Lun had more to prove than her. I've seen Deng Lun in Princess Agents and Because of You and I think Xu Feng is his superior role out of them all (even if I haven't seen all his work).
Music: The BGM is to die for. It was so on point in every scene. I especially love that Deng Lun and Yang Zi sang an OST together (Frostless Heaven and Earth). Deng Lun sang it in solo too. And Yang Zi sang Love Frost and her voice was just mesmerizing. There are other notable songs too, Upwards to the Moon and Unsullied.
Rewatch Value: Definitely a must watch and a worthy binge-watch no matter how many times you've seen it. I'd really recommend it to friends who are starting out on C-Dramas. It was such an amazing experience for me that I'd really want others to understand how it felt.
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