This review may contain spoilers
Fate-Defying Love
This drama was honestly one of my favorites that I have watched this year! Everything from the visuals, costumes, and the OSTs was absolutely gorgeous! This is my third drama of Dilraba's that I have watched, and once again, she did not disappoint! The way that she portrayed He Simu was incredible! I loved the duality her character had, as she could be very cold and merciless, but also be so curious and like a child when it comes to experiencing her five senses. I also loved that we slowly got to see her be more emotionally vulnerable as the drama goes on, such as when she loses control upon learning that Duan Xu was severely injured and wounded.
And speaking of Duan Xu, I honestly was so surprised at Arthur Chen's acting in this drama. I have never seen any of his other dramas, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. But, oh my goodness, his acting in this drama was honestly so good? In my opinion, he is another actor that expresses a lot of emotions with just his eyes. I also love the smiles and subtle smirks that he does as well, adding on to the confidence of his character. Duan Xu is someone who is unfailingly loyal and who gives his entire heart and soul to someone. (In this case, Simu). He is the definition of golden retriever energy, in my opinion. I loved how persistent he was, even though Simu did not return his affections for a while. He loves her unconditionally, but not only that, he allows her to have her freedom and doesn't try to confine her.
He Simu is a character who has been alive for 400 years, and has seen all of the tragedies and things that life has had to offer her. As the Sovereign of all Spirits, she rules over the Void firmly, and with an iron fist. She is cold and merciless, but is also quite calculating when she needs to be. She has had 22 lovers, all of whom have died. She even explains to Duan Xu how there was one lover whom she did care for deeply, but she soon came to forget his name and what they even looked like. And, because of her lack of five senses, she is unable to experience touch, sight, smell, etc. It is because of Duan Xu that she is able to experience all of these sensations, which is why she initially agrees for him to become her spell bearer. She insists that their relationship is purely transactional, but as the drama goes on, we see that that is truly not the case. She even does so much as walk away from him, despite the fact that it breaks her heart to do so, in order to save him from Yan Ke, who is surely to use him against her. She is such a strong female lead, who is a force to be reckoned with.
As for Yan Ke, Miles Wei was incredible in this role! I honestly think that he should play more villain/morally ambiguous characters. As Simu's Right Hand, he has spent 300 years by her side, obeying her every order and carrying them out as needed. But, he secretly harbors a greed for power, and the person with the most power is He Simu. At first, I had thought that Yan Ke was in love with Simu, as he would bring her things from the mortal realm, such as a tea?? making set. But, as the drama progressed and we got to see more and more of his personality; I soon realized that that wasn't exactly the case. He isn't in love with Simu, but with the power that she can give him. In other words, he is "in love" with what he cannot have. His ambitions and greed only grow, and it even drives him to extreme measures, trapping Simu in a bedchamber and placing a strong magical barrier around it so that she cannot escape.
The scene where he tells Simu that she has been his obsession for all these years and that he is the only one that truly cares about her? Yeah, that scene truly made me see his true colors. He is psychotic enough to use Duan Xu against her and to severely wound him as well. And while Simu appears not to care, we all know that she does. At the end, when he dies, I honestly wasn't sure how to feel. On the one hand. he did, in a way, die to save her, but at the same time, it doesn't excuse all the things that he did to her before. Jiang Ai? I absolutely loved her, but I just wish we got more of her backstory. I wanted to know more about her history with Bai San Xing. I do wish we got more of her story, but I am glad that we did get some backstory of her. I absolutely loved how she was loyal to Simu and was one of the only spirits who Simu perhaps considered a friend.
The love between Simu and Duan Xu was absolutely beautiful and devastating, and there are definitely a lot more things I could say, but I don't want to make this review any longer than it already is. I know I'm missing a lot of things, but the one last thing I will say is that the ending (the original one) was honestly beautiful. I did love the alternate ending, but I just think that Duan Xu would not like that Simu gave up her immortality to be with him. He would not want her to give up anything for him. I do prefer the original ending ,as Duan Xu will perhaps eventually become a spirit, and then he will be able to be with Simu forever. The ending had me sobbing uncontrollably, and the acting by both Arthur Chen and Dilaraba in that scene was absolutely excellent <3 Overall, this drama was absolutely beautiful, and depicts a love that defies fate and is absolutely beautiful and tragic all at once.
And speaking of Duan Xu, I honestly was so surprised at Arthur Chen's acting in this drama. I have never seen any of his other dramas, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. But, oh my goodness, his acting in this drama was honestly so good? In my opinion, he is another actor that expresses a lot of emotions with just his eyes. I also love the smiles and subtle smirks that he does as well, adding on to the confidence of his character. Duan Xu is someone who is unfailingly loyal and who gives his entire heart and soul to someone. (In this case, Simu). He is the definition of golden retriever energy, in my opinion. I loved how persistent he was, even though Simu did not return his affections for a while. He loves her unconditionally, but not only that, he allows her to have her freedom and doesn't try to confine her.
He Simu is a character who has been alive for 400 years, and has seen all of the tragedies and things that life has had to offer her. As the Sovereign of all Spirits, she rules over the Void firmly, and with an iron fist. She is cold and merciless, but is also quite calculating when she needs to be. She has had 22 lovers, all of whom have died. She even explains to Duan Xu how there was one lover whom she did care for deeply, but she soon came to forget his name and what they even looked like. And, because of her lack of five senses, she is unable to experience touch, sight, smell, etc. It is because of Duan Xu that she is able to experience all of these sensations, which is why she initially agrees for him to become her spell bearer. She insists that their relationship is purely transactional, but as the drama goes on, we see that that is truly not the case. She even does so much as walk away from him, despite the fact that it breaks her heart to do so, in order to save him from Yan Ke, who is surely to use him against her. She is such a strong female lead, who is a force to be reckoned with.
As for Yan Ke, Miles Wei was incredible in this role! I honestly think that he should play more villain/morally ambiguous characters. As Simu's Right Hand, he has spent 300 years by her side, obeying her every order and carrying them out as needed. But, he secretly harbors a greed for power, and the person with the most power is He Simu. At first, I had thought that Yan Ke was in love with Simu, as he would bring her things from the mortal realm, such as a tea?? making set. But, as the drama progressed and we got to see more and more of his personality; I soon realized that that wasn't exactly the case. He isn't in love with Simu, but with the power that she can give him. In other words, he is "in love" with what he cannot have. His ambitions and greed only grow, and it even drives him to extreme measures, trapping Simu in a bedchamber and placing a strong magical barrier around it so that she cannot escape.
The scene where he tells Simu that she has been his obsession for all these years and that he is the only one that truly cares about her? Yeah, that scene truly made me see his true colors. He is psychotic enough to use Duan Xu against her and to severely wound him as well. And while Simu appears not to care, we all know that she does. At the end, when he dies, I honestly wasn't sure how to feel. On the one hand. he did, in a way, die to save her, but at the same time, it doesn't excuse all the things that he did to her before. Jiang Ai? I absolutely loved her, but I just wish we got more of her backstory. I wanted to know more about her history with Bai San Xing. I do wish we got more of her story, but I am glad that we did get some backstory of her. I absolutely loved how she was loyal to Simu and was one of the only spirits who Simu perhaps considered a friend.
The love between Simu and Duan Xu was absolutely beautiful and devastating, and there are definitely a lot more things I could say, but I don't want to make this review any longer than it already is. I know I'm missing a lot of things, but the one last thing I will say is that the ending (the original one) was honestly beautiful. I did love the alternate ending, but I just think that Duan Xu would not like that Simu gave up her immortality to be with him. He would not want her to give up anything for him. I do prefer the original ending ,as Duan Xu will perhaps eventually become a spirit, and then he will be able to be with Simu forever. The ending had me sobbing uncontrollably, and the acting by both Arthur Chen and Dilaraba in that scene was absolutely excellent <3 Overall, this drama was absolutely beautiful, and depicts a love that defies fate and is absolutely beautiful and tragic all at once.
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