Michelle Topham

ROTFL. No, you obviously haven't watched it as that isn't the FL AT ALL. I mean why even comment about something you're not watching. So bizarre.

Screenwriter was on social media saying it's an HE. So Yay! :) Someone linked to her post below.

This is explained in the first MINUTE of Episode 1. Just listen to the opening narration -- takes about a minute -- and it explains the entire world, who the demons are and what happened to them.

Happy to see the rating of this slowly rising. It deserves at least an 8.6 to 8.8 at this point -- beautifully written, gorgeously shot and performed, with a stellar cast, phenomenally well-cast ML and FL, and a fascinating story. Six episodes in, and I cannot find fault with anything about this yet.

Perfectly explained. And yes, it's the subtlety of his performance, the minute changes in his expression that signal his displeasure, the flick of an eye, the almost imperceptible movement of his body,. He's one of a small number of Chinese actors who doesn't need the camera to pan to his shaking, clenched fist to show his anger (why DO Chinese directors do that!!!!! Hahahaha).

His characters always stick in my mind, as he is markedly different in every drama he performs in. He's the embodiment of that saying "he wears the character like a glove".

Yep. The screenwriter and the director have done an excellent job. Even the first minute of Episode 1 succinctly explains exactly what you need to know to understand the plot if you haven't watched the other two dramas. Or if you need a quick reminder about that particular world.

It's one of the most well-explained dramas I've watched in a while. Haven't needed to rewind once so far.

Yep. I see people on MDL all the time saying they "watched a drama, but skipped every scene except the ones with the main leads" or "watched a drama but watched it while doing homework, or "watched a drama but skipped Episode 20-35 and just watched the last episode".

Newsflash -- you did NOT watch the drama, and your supposed "397 DAYS of drama watching" are a joke. :)

You see it as well in younger people's intelligence levels, as a sizeable number (not all) fall far short of people in their mid-30s and beyond. It's because many of them have never been taught to concentrate, never been taught to ask questions, never been taught to think for themselves, never been taught to solve problems, or to read anything more than a couple-hundred-words X post, so even watching a drama and understanding the subplot is confusing. They don't seem to be able to comprehend subtle hints in a drama, as that level of thought and deduction seems to be beyond them. (Again, NOT all, and if you're in that age bracket and you can do all those things, good for you. Seriously. You're miles ahead of a huge percentage of your peers!)

You rarely see it in some countries (China, for instance, where the amount of social media use is limited daily for those under 18, and where education is very strict (read some Douban posts about dramas -- light years ahead of many posts by non-Chinese in intelligence and in language skills), which is why the Chinese are now ahead of most western countries in their education of scientists, mathematicians, engineers etc). But you do see it in most western countries (I've lived in 6 of them, it's the same in all 6).

I mean, hell, I've been in stores in the UK where the cashier can't figure out the correct change when a bill is £19.51 and I've given her a £20 note. How do you get through life with your brain unable to do simple math?

It's a shame what education has become in many western countries -- the U.S. spends more money on education than most other countries, but American schools don't educate children but instead indoctrinate them in "identity politics", "diversity, equity and inclusion" and "all whites are racist" bullshit.

I can easily see how China, for instance, will eventually pull away from the U.S. and take over the world. A huge percentage of their people are better educated than Americans (and I'm American but, thankfully, wasn't educated in the U.S.)

Sorry, you set me off on a tangent :) But Ye Gods, I despair for the west sometimes.

Yep. No need to watch the other two dramas to be able to understand this one. Everything you need to know is explained in the narration in the first minute of Episode 1 :)

I'm not AI. Stop being lazy and expecting others to do your work for you. Are you like this in real life? It's all literally in the first MINUTE of Ep 1.

There's no need to watch any other drama to be able to watch and understand this. It's a standalone story, with everything you need to know explained in the first MINUTE of Episode 1.

It was literally 1 minute long. I've seen a lot longer.

Can I gently suggest people listen to the opening narration/read the subs in the introduction to a drama. :)

The identity of the ML was hinted at right in the opening few seconds of this one where the narrator talks about demons and the five trials they need to endure to become human. Him not being able to feel pain, see colors, everything tasting like rot etc was also explained.

I'm seeing person after person in the comments who obviously didn't pay attention to that, so is not understanding who he is, why he didn't file a petition against the verdict instead of just accepting a death by a thousand cuts, why he needed to get married before he died etc.

It's literally all explained in the first minute of the narration. ;)

Yes. From books written by the same author.

Wow, this is excellent. Allen Ren and Wang He Run are an interesting pairing, he's looking even prettier than normal, the cast is epic, the plot is somewhat unique, the world-building is well-done, and the writing is superb. (Would expect that, though, as she's the same screenwriter as the writer of the equally fabulous The Demon Hunter's Romance and A Moment But Forever).

Everything about this so far is checking all my boxes. First time in a while I've seen the "40 episodes" and thought "Ooooooh, nice.". )

Just block them and move on :) This person is beyond vile. The block feature gets rid of their comments from your timeline. Highly recommend :)

I'm only 1 episode in, and it's nothing unusual plot-wise, but Li Ge Yang is always brilliant, and it's an interesting pairing with him and Eleanor (she was phenomenally good in Why Is He Still Single?). Nice cinematography/camera angles, and excellent wire work for a short series as well.

Very happy with it so far, as it's nice to have a short series that's high quality and an interesting watch.

Exactly. Some of my favorite dramas were not that well-received in China, and vice versa. Although, if a drama is unmistakenly bad, and we do get those occasional, both demographics do tend to hate it :)

Right! I'm getting the creepy vibe from the dude too :) Thought it was just me!

Want to add I'm changing my mind on the writing in this. While it's driving me insane with the ridiculous "coincidences' in every episode, it IS the screenwriter's first produced drama and, for that alone, I have to commend her for her effort and for the plot. (Well, one of the screenwriters. I don't know about her co-writer?)

Yes, it's over-the-top, yes it's ridiculously over-dramatic in so many areas, yes, the characters are infuriating, and yes, both leads need to grow a spine but, if nothing else, she has managed to create a drama that's entertaining -- even if some of that entertainment is because you want to slap silly half the characters in it :)

EDIT: And btw, if you think it's melodramatic now, I'd recommend you avoid watching the teasers for the next two episodes -- ROTFL.

Yep, Kevin has no interest in what Miyu wants for her life, just what SHE can do for HIM -- ie: be in a relationship with him. So much so, he talks down to her when she's reading a management book and then, out of the blue, suddenly asks her to leave Purong and work for HIS company. Loved how she just completely ignored what he said :)