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Life imitating art
This wuxia and transmigration drama may look great on paper - solid cast, great choreography for the fights, and a transmigration storyline - but its execution is much more mixed. The use of transmigrating a character from modern day to ancient China is not a new story device, and here, it indeed feels stale and underused. I found that it did not add much to the overall storyline. If it were completely removed from the story - everything would have flowed just fine.As far as wuxia goes, the story does attempt to bring out some classic elements - the brotherhood, the chivalry, and the search for a more just world, but not everything melds together well. For a whopping 40 episodes, it seems like not a whole lot is explored more deeply whether it is character arcs or thematic developments. For a cast featuring Cheng Yi at the helm and a slew of many other experienced actors, it is a bit of a wasted opportunity.
The fights are truly exhilarating - and it is still worth checking this out for this and for some great moments of drama scattered through the duration of the story. The soundtrack boasts a few great tracks from various singers, but the instrumental music is a hit or miss for me.
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This review may contain spoilers
While there are some nice moments of drama, comedy and fights in this xianxia drama, I found it far too long and repetitive to make a profound impact for the audience who is looking for more than its romance story. Its generic plot and characters are somewhat shocking to me given the caliber of actors in the cast. Shen Li and Xingzhi, aside from their romance, do not undergo much development or growth in their characters. Some of the supporting roles and side/guest roles are far more distinctive in their growth such as Furong and Youlan as they become true leaders of the Divine Realm/Clan - or just more interesting such as the former god Qingye and Lady Jin.Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin are skilled enough actors to make their story work - I especially enjoyed the first several episodes in the mortal realm. The rest of the cast are great with what they are given to work with, but don't expect any deeper themes to be woven into the story that would stand out compared to some of the better xianxia dramas in the past several years. If you are a fan of the actors and xianxia, this is still worth a check, but it is unfortunately more of the same in my opinion.
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Neither here nor there
There are some nice moments in this drama - a lot of the supporting roles are nicely developed and performed, adding to a rich ensemble of characters bringing the kingdoms of Sui and Northern Qi to life. Some standouts to me are Grand Princess Li Changming, Tuan Tuan, Chu Linyang and even Gu Chusheng. But a gaping hole in this story is unfortunately a dull romance between Wei Yun and Chu Yu, our leads. There's simply not enough to sustain the long 40 episodes, and one wonders if condensing this story to 30 episodes might have done the trick. The narrative is too long-winded, making the more interesting dramatic parts somewhat disappear.Not the epic historic tale I was looking for in a pretty dry section of Chinese drama land in this second half of 2025, but it is still worth checking out especially if you enjoy the reliable performances of Ding Yuxi and that of veterans such as Joe Chen and Cao Jun.
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Half-baked
When I consider everything as a whole - everything in this drama seems half-baked. Whether it is the costumes and set designs, or the blocking of scenes and cinematography, everything seems unpolished and unfinished. More importantly, the script has not allowed for adequate development of characters, plot or themes. What should be emphasized is rushed (especially at the end). What drags on and on long overstays its welcome (ahem Gu Qin storyline).Even with these technical deficits, a skilled director and actors could probably have made due and produced some chemistry on screen to enjoy. Alas, Chen Zheyuan looks uncharacteristically dull here, and Wu Jingyan brings nothing new. There are some exciting moments especially in the middle third of the drama, but the conclusion leaves a hollow feeling by far.
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Still, it isn't one I would likely re-watch because it is quite heavy overall, but the message it conveys is also quite healing, hopeful and worth contemplating. If you're a fan of Toby Lee or Tiffany Hsu, this is worth checking out for their great performances, as well as that of the supporting cast.
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This review may contain spoilers
A tale of women in the Tang dynasty
Female-centric stories have become quite popular in Chinese dramas lately. While Flourished Peony does not escape some of the typical tropes seen in these types of dramas, its tremendous cast carries the story forward with charm, dramatic tension and a much-needed dose of realism that is sorely lacking in C-drama land these days.He Weifang escapes from a ill-matched, abusive marriage with Liu Chang and flees to Chang'an from Luoyang in search of a new beginning. Gifted with skills in botany and in medicine/pharmacology, she attempts to re-invent herself and to restore to her own what was lost in being forced to marry into the Liu family (her mother's life, her freedom, and her happiness). Along the way, she encounters the mysterious, flamboyant "Flower Envoy" Jiang Chang Yang, and the two begin a tenuous partnership that blossoms to something more. Alas, we will have to wait until part 2 of this drama airs before we can see their full story arc.
You will also meet in this drama your usual villains such as the tyrannical Prince Ning and his entitled and somewhat unhinged daughter Youzhen, but enough is written into their characters to make them seem more dimensional that what is typically depicted in these types of dramas. One of the more interesting characters so far is Liu Chang, whose character actor Miles Wei manages to imbue with a sense of pathos despite his deplorable inability to see himself for who he really is. The rest of the cast from Mudan's friends to even the emperor feel like living, breathing people rather than typical supporting characters.
The beginning and end are the highlights - the middle of this drama does stray into blandness a bit but thankfully not for long. Hopefully part 2 brings more drama, excitement and romance.
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Lost in translation
Based on a Japanese novel series, The Legend of Rosy Clouds seems great on paper but has had a fitful journey to make its way on screen. Apparently set back with copyright issues, complying with censorship (I'm sure it was a bear trying to readapt this story to fit better with Chinese culture), and numerous edits, the final product is largely a convoluted mess but still with its charms.Filmed 3 years ago, the main cast have since grown in the industry and moved on to better projects. Still, it is fun to see them here in a mostly lighthearted show. The supporting cast in particular bring a lot of humor and warmth, including some veteran actors who are simply hilarious and fun to see in a different light.
Ultimately, even without cutting out some of the backstory and forgiving all the edits, this drama suffers mostly from its incoherent writing, lacking in organic development of character arcs and plot lines. In adapting the original source material, critical things were changed that should ultimately change the trajectory of certain key characters and thus reshape the overall plot, but it seems that the writers still wanted to hold onto original beats without clearly thinking through the logic. Also lacking is the development of key themes: the oppression/liberation of women, the philosophies of government, and other themes could have been more thoroughly explored. And don't get me started on the romance writing - it is borderline insulting to anyone who has actually been in a romantic relationship.
Highlights are Zheng Shi and his grandfather's scenes and certain aspects of the Zheng family/Jing City arc. The music is actually very enjoyable, with my favorite songs being the opening titles song and Liu Yuning's angsty one.
Take a chance on this one if you need something to make you laugh (at least the first half of the show) or if you a fan of the cast. But there are many better dramas out them that better represent what the cast is capable of.
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Finding light after a long dark
The world of Dahuang can be a cruel and harsh place, as royal cousins Xiaoyao and Cang Xuan learn bitterly at a young age. Orphaned, lost, and tortured for many years, XY eventually hides herself in the small Qingshui Town working as the town healer of sorts. Also orphaned and forced to live as a hostage in a foreign kingdom, CX spends his early life fending off his murderous uncles. Fate brings him to Qingshui Town disguised as a winemaker. He and XY eventually reunite, but will they be together forever?In that fateful town, XY meets and saves the gentle Tushan Jing, who she calls Ye Shiqi. He too has his own tale of betrayal and torture at the hands of his half-brother Hou. Nearby is the enigmatic and seemingly harsh Xiang Liu, caught in his own struggle with his past and devotion to his adoptive father. These figures are forever intertwined as they are thrust onto a high-stakes adventure of fighting for a better, kinder future while at all times fighting for their own survival.
I would have liked to see season 2 first before writing this review, but at this point it may be a while before it comes out. As it stands, however, season 1 has a clear story arc focusing on XY and CX's endeavors to win the latter the Xiyan throne, so as a standalone season, it mostly works. There are a lot of other characters and themes that will need S2 to round out their arcs fully, particularly for TSJ, who ends S1 in a bit of a miserable state. I hope to write more about TSJ after S2, as he is one of my favorites. His kindness and genuine love for XY are a bright light in this often dark tale of very complex people trying to make the best of an unkind world.
The cast bring the story to life, and the writing is satisfyingly solid throughout the whole drama. No useless fillers or characters in this tale. Music and production are memorable, with the rare bits here and there of questionable CGI. Bring on season 2!
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Solid idol period drama
It's been a boring stretch of Chinese drama land for me, and so far none this year have captured a 10/10 from me, but Key to the Phoenix Heart is an entertaining and solidly constructed idol period romance drama worthy of checking out. The romance is sweet and surprisingly captivating, carrying through the drama until the end. Even more surprising to me was a solidly written plot on the political front, allowing for the adequate development of all the supporting characters. In particular, several veteran actors bring out some real powerful performances to help lend some weight to key moments.The drama, however, could have used more time in post production. The editing is a bit unpolished, and while there are a few banger songs in the OST, the overall instrumental tracks lack distinction, and edits using music could using some smoothing out. The use of dubbing with voice actors as well for lead roles will always get an automatic -0.5 from me. Additionally, the story could have used more finesse and development in certain aspects, although that's overall a tall order for this type of idol drama. And performance-wise, I unfortunately found Riley's lacking in depth or engagement, which is a pity because his character is so central to the story. In fact, Merxat outacts him anytime he is on screen.
Overall, an enjoyable summer drama despite its flaws. Ai Mi proves her worth as a leading lady and will go far if she continues to develop and grow in the years to come.
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Forging a better path forward
This is a beautifully produced period drama that includes all the great things I love about period dramas: a little romance, a little revenge, a lot of game of thrones, and a pithy script that explores all the highs and lows of human and nature. As expected of the main writer and director of this drama, this is a worthy though heavy story to savor slowly. Additionally, Bai Lu and Cheng Lei give perhaps some of their best performances of late, a welcome respite from the myriad idol dramas they have been in these recent years.However, in the season of summer when one might want something more blockbuster-y, this drama may be a little too sad and pedantic at times to really soar. The rousing final act with its action-filled climax is overshadowed by a prolonged denouement, as the script struggles to balance the multiple antagonists.
Still, this is probably one of the best period C dramas this year and is a must watch for all period drama lovers. It's ultimately a story about coming out of darkness, out of your haunted past, and forging a better path forward. A path not riddled with putting down others so that you can thrive, but a path of cultivating truth, light and justice.
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Justice for all
While devoted fans of the original work that perhaps started it all in the world of wuxia (The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants) may balk at the changes made in this drama to certain characters and events, this show is a worthy entry into the broader genre of wuxia that has been lacking in recent years.This story highlights Zhan Zhao, chronicling a formative period in his life where he develops his strong sense of justice. You may think of it as a sort of origin story, and it largely works with a engaging mystery-laden plot and an understanding of how to develop strong villains in contrast to our heroes. Zhan Zhao is joined by the charming if hotheaded Bai Yutang and the bright-eyed but equally steely Huo Linglong as the trio make their way through treacherous places in search of justice for themselves as well as for the people of Song.
While the plot is not entirely original nor inventive nor the mystery quite so mysterious (one can guess quite early on who is who but perhaps that is not the main point), the antagonists and villains are given a fuller depiction than in most period C dramas of late, supported by a cadre of veteran performers that bring each character to life. Yang Yang gives one of his best performances in recent years, and Alen Fang deserves more time as Bai Yutang if a second season ever comes to light. Perhaps the weakest of the three in our trio is Zhang Ruonan as Linglong, but to be fair, she is not given much to do onscreen after the gripping initial arc.
If you enjoy period dramas, especially wuxia, you cannot miss this one in 2026.
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A long good-bye
Adapted from a very long novel, of which only a small portion is captured here in this drama, The Immortal Ascension follows an ordinary mortal named Han Li on his journey of cultivation. Along the way, he encounters friend, foe and everything in between, as he discovers that seeking immortality and power is not even the half of it.This is a world that builds slowly - perhaps too slow for some - but the climax and finale are thrilling enough to leave an indelible mark with just enough emotional weight and depth to carry the whole drama (or should I say, season). Certain aspects of the story and characters are a bit underdeveloped, but an adequate foundation is laid to build upon characters and themes in subsequent seasons - if only that were an easy task.
Just as Han Li says good-bye many times to several characters - many of them female admirers - we too as the audience must say a long good-bye until hopefully another season or two or three can hopefully be made.
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What endures
This is a great addition to the demon-hunting/solving cases genre, with some real attempts at probing some deeper themes and not just a light-hearted romance or adventure story. The first half of the show has a more eerie, creepy vibe that I found more interesting, while the second half did suffer a bit of being too long-winded and sentimental. However, overall, this is a rewarding watch for fans of the cast and period dramas in general.While the ending may leave some dissatisfied, when considering this genre historically in Chinese literature and mythology, it is not a surprising one. It also matches the overall tone of the drama - hopeful yet always with a tinge of sadness. Bittersweet, as some would say. Such is life, and such are the lives of many in this show. Only love perhaps can endure all bitterness and heal all wounds, but it may take time or a lifetime to find such love that can overcome all.
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To be continued
While this is an entertaining follow up to season 1 of Joy of Life, the story and themes do not resonant as well this time around. There are simply too many threads and characters to follow that much of the season can feel like going from one plot point to another. The set up from the end of the first season is that the main antagonist for this season should be the Second Prince. And while the schemes and back and forth between Li Chengze and our lead Fan Xian can be interesting to watch, ultimately it all feels somewhat inconsequential since not enough time is spent on fleshing out our antagonist's character. He simply begins and ends this season the same person, and the audience does not learn any more about his motivations or see his struggles (if he has any). He, like the Eldest Princess, is simply crazy bad. Other characters are sorely underused such as Yan Bingyun or woefully underdeveloped (and unfortunately miscast) such as Ye Ling'er.The more interesting character is that of the Emperor of Qing, Fan Xian's true biological father. I suspect (as I have never read the very lengthy novel) that he will be the main antagonist in the final chapter. Chen Daoming as usual gives a masterful performance of the very complex character who keeps his true intentions close to himself.
This is all not to say I did not enjoy season 2 - I certainly did. Some of my favorite episodes involve the Spring Exam and the downfall of Prime Minister Lin and the scenes Fan Xian shares with the emperor. The middle chapter of any story can be challenging to adapt. There is no real beginning or end, and I feel that lack of narrative focus when I watch this. Everything deeper was already said quite well in season 1, and I was hoping for its own story to tell in this season. I get the sense that this season is more of a set up for the final one to come, and hopefully we all get a satisfying conclusion.
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