ivybis
United States
Up There with TMOPB
If you are a fan of xianxia dramas, or any kind of good romances, then this is the one to watch. I got hooked on the xianxia genre after having come across the Chinese TV series Three Lives Three Worlds and Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, renamed Eternal Love on Netflix. I was so impressed with that series, that I worried I wouldn't find something that good again. I was wrong. I was sucked into the world of heavenly beings and their adventures completely in Ancient Love Poetry because the writing, production and performances were that good.
Once again we have a world of heavenly gods, demons, and lower immortals that co-exist happily, and otherwise, in a realm filled with beauty. If Heaven were like this, I would truly never want to leave. The landscapes, though CGI created, are stunning to behold, pulling you right into their world and to the story. Here we have two young people who gradually fall in love as they navigate hardships and responsibilities. Bai Jue, masterfully played by Xu Kai, is the serious, heavenly god who keeps to himself, preferring a simple and peaceful life to the lively social scene in the heavenly realm--earning himself the title "Ice Cube" by his peers. He is forced out of seclusion when he is tasked with the duty of training a new chief goddess by the name of ShangGu. ShangGu is his polar opposite--unruly, spoiled, unserious and full of mischief. Her efforts to lighten him up exasperates him to no end, as her relentlessness slowly breaks through his barriers and into his heart.
ShangGu, played by the breathtaking Zhou Dongyu, knows she has a big responsibility but she would rather spend her days being idle and sleeping late, much to the chagrin of her very strict master Bai Jue. She resorts to coming up with all kinds of mockery to revenge herself on her exasperatingly handsome, wet blanket of a teacher. Egging her on are her close friends Tian Qi ( Liu Xue Yi) and Yue Mi (Luo Qiu Yun). When war threatens the heavenly realm, ShangGu is forced to grow up and take her responsibilities seriously. She comes to learn quickly that the future of the world lays squarely on her shoulders as the life she envisions for herself could be in jeopardy.
The twists and turns of this drama keep you glued to your seat and the 40 minute episodes make it completely binge-worthy. There are some slow episodes and Liu Xue Yi, one of my favorite C-drama actors, is sorely underused, but all deliver remarkable and memorable performances that stay with you. I can't say enough about Zhou Dongyu's performance as ShangGu. She is perfection in looks and talent. She doesn't just act. She becomes, and that is a rare gift. She made me cry so many times and made me deeply care for her character. Bravo! Xu Kai was sublime. His performances are so understated and simple in a way that draws him into your heart. He knows how to make you see his inner struggles. That is the mark of a person that truly knows his craft. I am very impressed by his talent and can't wait to see what he does next.
The OST is gorgeous and captivates the romantic nature of the show perfectly. ( Looking forward to adding to my my C-drama playlist.). I highly recommend this beautiful production for anyone who wants to great romance they can get lost in.
Once again we have a world of heavenly gods, demons, and lower immortals that co-exist happily, and otherwise, in a realm filled with beauty. If Heaven were like this, I would truly never want to leave. The landscapes, though CGI created, are stunning to behold, pulling you right into their world and to the story. Here we have two young people who gradually fall in love as they navigate hardships and responsibilities. Bai Jue, masterfully played by Xu Kai, is the serious, heavenly god who keeps to himself, preferring a simple and peaceful life to the lively social scene in the heavenly realm--earning himself the title "Ice Cube" by his peers. He is forced out of seclusion when he is tasked with the duty of training a new chief goddess by the name of ShangGu. ShangGu is his polar opposite--unruly, spoiled, unserious and full of mischief. Her efforts to lighten him up exasperates him to no end, as her relentlessness slowly breaks through his barriers and into his heart.
ShangGu, played by the breathtaking Zhou Dongyu, knows she has a big responsibility but she would rather spend her days being idle and sleeping late, much to the chagrin of her very strict master Bai Jue. She resorts to coming up with all kinds of mockery to revenge herself on her exasperatingly handsome, wet blanket of a teacher. Egging her on are her close friends Tian Qi ( Liu Xue Yi) and Yue Mi (Luo Qiu Yun). When war threatens the heavenly realm, ShangGu is forced to grow up and take her responsibilities seriously. She comes to learn quickly that the future of the world lays squarely on her shoulders as the life she envisions for herself could be in jeopardy.
The twists and turns of this drama keep you glued to your seat and the 40 minute episodes make it completely binge-worthy. There are some slow episodes and Liu Xue Yi, one of my favorite C-drama actors, is sorely underused, but all deliver remarkable and memorable performances that stay with you. I can't say enough about Zhou Dongyu's performance as ShangGu. She is perfection in looks and talent. She doesn't just act. She becomes, and that is a rare gift. She made me cry so many times and made me deeply care for her character. Bravo! Xu Kai was sublime. His performances are so understated and simple in a way that draws him into your heart. He knows how to make you see his inner struggles. That is the mark of a person that truly knows his craft. I am very impressed by his talent and can't wait to see what he does next.
The OST is gorgeous and captivates the romantic nature of the show perfectly. ( Looking forward to adding to my my C-drama playlist.). I highly recommend this beautiful production for anyone who wants to great romance they can get lost in.
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