1
"Plot Twist Inside a Plot Twist, I Can't Help But Want to Know How The Story Goes"
𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐀 𝐎𝐌𝐆...super fun!!!!!!!! ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE'S STILL A PLOT TWIST EVEN AFTER THE LAST EP CREDITS LMAO.
˖᯽ ݁˖ P.S. The first 3 episodes might be a little confusing. I just think there's a problem with the directing in the first 3 episodes, but it gets SO much better 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟒!
𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚:
⤷ First of all, I'm glad that I decided to watch this drama despite how people have been talking about the "age gap" on the internet. When the production team said 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀, I knew I had to give this drama a try, especially considering this amazing cast lineup!
⤷ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. I noticed there was huge potential for the story, and they utilized it really well. Also, they really do play with the viewers' emotions.
⤷ The writer is smart about keeping the plot interesting. 𝗜 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵. There is romance here and there, but not too much, which I love. (I don't think every romance drama has to use intimate scenes, but here, they portray the husband-and-wife relationship in a very cute and interesting way.)
⤷𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟴-𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁. I just wish there were more scenes after the final episode. (I'm not talking about the after-credit scene; I wouldn't mind if they just added a few more minutes to the last episode.) Honestly, a special episode or even just several extra minutes would have been amazing.
⤷The directing and cinematography aren't my favorite, especially in the first three episodes and in several other scenes. I kinda disliked the cinematography in the last scene of the final episode (this specific scene with too much unnatural light), 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘁.
For the acting, I feel like 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐒𝐎 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋 with how they portrayed their characters. Sadness, anger, madness, craziness, evil...they did it all so well!!!!
⬩➤ Aimi is very versatile despite her young age. I hope to see more of her work. She portrayed childishness, selfishness, maturity, and softness really well. You can see that Xie Jiayu is an "explosive" character. She's smart, but not completely mature. Later on, we can see how her character progresses as the story gets deeper.
⬩➤ Hou Minghao is an amazing actor, so I don't have any complaints about his performance. He portrayed Xiao Wuyi so well. I need to praise him specifically for a scene from Episode 27 (31:50), when he turns around and smiles at his opponent. That specific scene shows that he IS Xiao Wuyi!! He's forever that smart, cunning general.
⬩➤ I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE VILLAINS IN THIS DRAMA OMG. They did sooooooooo well. It's been a while since I've genuinely hated villain characters and been this emotionally invested in their downfall lol. I want to praise Wang Yilun, Peter Ho, and Ma Qiu Yuan for how well they managed to piss the audience off.
⬩➤ All the side characters (especially everyone in the Xiao family household, the soldiers, guards, child actors, etc.) did an amazing job and played important roles in building up the story.
𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟰–𝟱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟰 (𝗶𝗺𝗼). Meanwhile, you need to prepare yourself for the emotional roller coaster from Episodes 23–25. My personal favorite is actually Episodes 23–28.
To sum it up, the drama itself is 𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒. When I say plot twists, I don't mean just one or two. It's a series of plot twists from the beginning all the way to the end. Even after you finish this drama, make sure to watch the after-credit scene!
Was this review helpful to you?
“Chill Demon Fantasy Romance Drama”
The drama starts off with a fun and promising premise, but gradually takes a much darker and more emotional turn toward the end. Honestly, I didn't expect the story to become quite heavy since it began with such a lighthearted and chill atmosphere. (no worries it’s still a chill drama!)I think the overall concept is quite cute. It's not particularly groundbreaking, basically about the journey of a group of demon and human friends. The cast has distinct personalities, the acting is solid, the CGI is well done, and the OSTs fit the story beautifully.
The plot is quite steady, and the opening is a little bit long because of the "loop," but it gets more fun once they start their journey. It's a good drama to watch if you want something chill or don't really want to think too much about the plot. I don't find this drama hard to watch, but at the same time, not every arc left a strong impression on me. The "steady plot" is quite tricky, it keeps things chill, but it's not very impactful (imo).
What I love about this drama is how they make every character unique in their own way. Also, can we talk about how cute their costumes are? I feel like they put a lot of thought into designing and styling each character. There are quite a lot of demons, but they managed to make each of them unique, both in terms of personality and style. My favorite character is actually Cui Cui, the little bamboo shoot demon!
There are several twists in the story (some are quite predictable), but the ending is the ultimate twist for me.
Overall, it's a good watch, but only several of the arcs/scenes are memorable to me. I think the characters leave a bigger impact than the overall story itself. The plot is fine, but I guess they could have given a better explanation for the ending since quite a few people on the internet are confused by it. It's understandable tho…(I had to pause several times just to understand the ending).
Was this review helpful to you?
A very good start, good pacing, but most important: amazing acting!
A really, really good start!!! This drama made a strong first impression on me. I was hooked within the first 10 minutes. The acting is amazing, the pacing is great, and I'm especially impressed by how well they cast the child actors.
First, I really want to praise the child actors! They play a huge role in bringing Chen Yi and Miao Jing's characters to life.
I've seen Zhou Yu Chen's performances in several dramas, and they've always been amazing. He's consistently left a strong impression on me with his acting. But in this drama, you can really see how much he's matured as an actor through the way he portrays young Chen Yi.
As for Chen Zi Xuan, this is my first time watching her, and she did such an incredible job. She perfectly portrays an obedient, intelligent, timid, and kind-hearted child. Despite carrying so much pain, her eyes still convey warmth, which makes her performance even more touching.
Both the child and adult versions of the male and female leads embody their characters so well that the entire backstory is delivered beautifully and feels incredibly believable.
Zhang Jingyi and Song Weilong bring their characters to life sooooo well. I would describe their chemistry as completely natural. They genuinely feel like step-siblings who support and care for each other. As the story progresses, their chemistry develops at the perfect pace. You can clearly see the warmth, pain, confusion, hope, sadness, and happiness reflected in their eyes.
On top of that, the supporting cast: including the parents, friends, and other side characters, did an amazing job building the viewers' emotions. Whoever was responsible for casting this drama deserves a huge thumbs up!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
“Love is knowing yourself, understanding your partner, and respecting each other”
This drama revolves around an urban love story. The female lead, Jingjing, and the male lead, Yu Tu, are both in adulthood with stable careers while navigating the challenges of work, relationships, and everyday life. Their unexpected reunion becomes the heart of the story, allowing viewers to see how both of them have grown from high school students into the adults they are today.What I love most about this drama is how mature both Jingjing and Yu Tu are. They communicate thoughtfully, try to understand each other's perspectives, and take both their careers and relationships seriously. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠.
The drama also does an excellent job of contrasting their lives. Jingjing has grown into the successful person she always dreamed of becoming, earning the admiration and even envy of many of her former classmates. Yu Tu, on the other hand, excels in his career and has achieved what many would consider a prestigious job. Yet despite his professional success, he gradually realizes that he's lost sight of himself and begins questioning what he truly wants in life.
The contrast between Jingjing and Yu Tu, their long-awaited reunion, the emotional turbulence they experience, the lingering "what ifs," and their constant struggle to figure out the "right" path in life all come together to create a heartfelt and engaging journey.
Although there are moments that will absolutely break your heart (ofc I cried), the drama develops both characters beautifully, allowing viewers to genuinely understand their different perspectives and the choices they make. I especially love that the male lead doesn't rush into a relationship. Instead, he takes the time to understand himself, figure out what he truly wants, learn to love himself, and find the courage to stand by his own choices.
I've always loved the female lead! Jingjing is like a refreshing ice cream on a hot summer day and a comforting hot pot that you constantly crave during winter. She's bubbly, radiant, excellent at her job, adorable yet mature, and completely comfortable with who she is. She's the kind of person who loves herself first and then shares that positivity with everyone around her. I've always said I'd love to have a friend like her in real life.
The male lead is also the kind of character who proves why Yu Tu is so admired. He's intelligent, calm, thoughtful, mature, capable, and incredibly kind. Sadly, even though he seems "perfect" in everyone else's eyes, he sees himself as a failure because his career and sense of responsibility don't align with society's definition of a "successful life." I won't spoil too much, but this inner conflict is one of the strongest parts of his character.
If I had to describe their relationship in one phrase, it would be: “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.”
Overall, this drama is easy to watch, relaxing, and heartwarming. It's an ideal urban modern slow-burn romance. I personally put this as one of my favorite (at least top 3) modern romance C-Dramas I’ve ever watched! ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
⤷ p.s. I really love their OST, especially《烟火星辰》"𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀" 𝗯𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝘂 𝗬𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.
This OST has a special place in my heart. It used to be on Spotify, but they removed it…😭✮⋆˙
Was this review helpful to you?
