This review may contain spoilers
Great Potential in the Beginning, Falls Flat near the End
I'm writing this review because a lot of the perceptions of the characters and story are bothering me. The Eternal Fragrance had great potential and worldbuilding, but falls flat sometimes and had a just okay last episode. I will start with the good and bad and then do a (short) rant.
THE GOOD AND GREAT:
- Strong worldbuilding: There were only a few things that I was confused about but otherwise it was not hard to follow
- The ML and FL: I thoroughly enjoyed these characters and their relationship. They each have their own motivations that they stick to but are plagued by their love for one another when it comes into conflict with what they want. I am always ready for a doomed lovers trope
- The styling: I love love love all the outfits and hair for the main six. Most especially the demon lord and the divine tree. Makeup could be better for the men. Styling for the old dudes was mostly pretty good too, couldn't stop staring at their eyebrows lol.
- (Most) side characters: I love a found family, the six friends were great when they were given screen time. I wish we saw more of them because according to the timeline they spent at least a year together. The side characters for demon clan weren't thoroughly explored but I did like how their arcs ended
- (Some) villains: I appreciate the commitment to making certain characters just full on assholes even if they have misplaced motivations caused by centuries of hatred. Some of the endings are very satisfying, some fall a little flat. I think Cuixuan was quite good, actually frustrating because we know his strength. It made me root for the ML and FL more.
- Brave choices (?): Basically this drama isn't afraid of doing unexpected things and killing characters. They aren't characters you get super attached to but it's still pretty shocking. It makes he story and relationships more intense.
- Song Weilong and Ju Jingyi!!! Started this drama for SWL, I love his expressions and he looks great as a demon lord. This was my first JJY work and it's a great first impression! She played Jiang Lifei really well.
THE SUBPAR:
- CGI: The low budget for CGI is immediately noticeable unfortunately. Thankfully the smaller battles look okay, but the flashback to the Sea Calamity and battle with the demon lord from 500 years back looks pretty awful and they show it a lot, so that's a bit distracting. I really think some creative lighting could have helped a lot.
- Editing: Choppy quite often though it doesn't take away too much from the story. The abrupt cuts sometimes are very annoying and can make some parts of the story difficult to piece together.
- Tongzhou: I hate a love triangle but I could tolerate his character in the beginning when everyone was in the academy. Unfortunately he devolved from there and got pretty annoying. His treatment of Lanya was very satisfying for me but what he was doing to Lifei in the end was unacceptable and he did not receive a satisfying punishment for it. His character arc wrap-up was incredibly disappointing to me because they almost had it right, but refused to punish him for all the awful shit he did for what felt like "old time's sake". It was more disappointing because the drama usually isn't afraid of hurting characters that were/are good people.
- Lack of love scenes: I felt the tension, it was great. I wish we got more lovey-dovey scenes. I know, I know, a story doesn't have to have love scenes to be good. But we spent so much time with them and their developing relationship, I think it would have been a satisfying wrap-up.
- The last episode: As someone that was enjoying the show pretty thoroughly, the last episode felt quite flat because of some character arcs (Miaoqing, Tongzhou) and lack of time with the ML and FL, instead spending time with side characters.
- Demon lord's eyeliner: Super specific but it was genuinely distracting, sad because he looks amazing otherwise
Lastly, I have to rant as someone that was seeing the comments while this was airing:
Jiang Lifei and Lei Xuiyuan were a lot of fun to watch when you ignore the dozens of people that believe Lifei should just ignore the people around her and just go along with Xiuyuan. I really don't understand people, he betrayed her trust in the beginning (which she forgives him for, mind you), and in the final arc it LOOKS like he has caused the deaths of multiple people close to her indirectly and directly (we as the audience know it wasn't him, but she doesn't!). It is so ridiculous to think she should just ignore all of this, things that make it look like they really are fated to cause doom, and follow along with everything he says. Her taking time to make her own plans and find out the truth is what makes her a good FL. In fact the relationship and trials between the ML and FL are what feel the strongest to me in this drama.
THE GOOD AND GREAT:
- Strong worldbuilding: There were only a few things that I was confused about but otherwise it was not hard to follow
- The ML and FL: I thoroughly enjoyed these characters and their relationship. They each have their own motivations that they stick to but are plagued by their love for one another when it comes into conflict with what they want. I am always ready for a doomed lovers trope
- The styling: I love love love all the outfits and hair for the main six. Most especially the demon lord and the divine tree. Makeup could be better for the men. Styling for the old dudes was mostly pretty good too, couldn't stop staring at their eyebrows lol.
- (Most) side characters: I love a found family, the six friends were great when they were given screen time. I wish we saw more of them because according to the timeline they spent at least a year together. The side characters for demon clan weren't thoroughly explored but I did like how their arcs ended
- (Some) villains: I appreciate the commitment to making certain characters just full on assholes even if they have misplaced motivations caused by centuries of hatred. Some of the endings are very satisfying, some fall a little flat. I think Cuixuan was quite good, actually frustrating because we know his strength. It made me root for the ML and FL more.
- Brave choices (?): Basically this drama isn't afraid of doing unexpected things and killing characters. They aren't characters you get super attached to but it's still pretty shocking. It makes he story and relationships more intense.
- Song Weilong and Ju Jingyi!!! Started this drama for SWL, I love his expressions and he looks great as a demon lord. This was my first JJY work and it's a great first impression! She played Jiang Lifei really well.
THE SUBPAR:
- CGI: The low budget for CGI is immediately noticeable unfortunately. Thankfully the smaller battles look okay, but the flashback to the Sea Calamity and battle with the demon lord from 500 years back looks pretty awful and they show it a lot, so that's a bit distracting. I really think some creative lighting could have helped a lot.
- Editing: Choppy quite often though it doesn't take away too much from the story. The abrupt cuts sometimes are very annoying and can make some parts of the story difficult to piece together.
- Tongzhou: I hate a love triangle but I could tolerate his character in the beginning when everyone was in the academy. Unfortunately he devolved from there and got pretty annoying. His treatment of Lanya was very satisfying for me but what he was doing to Lifei in the end was unacceptable and he did not receive a satisfying punishment for it. His character arc wrap-up was incredibly disappointing to me because they almost had it right, but refused to punish him for all the awful shit he did for what felt like "old time's sake". It was more disappointing because the drama usually isn't afraid of hurting characters that were/are good people.
- Lack of love scenes: I felt the tension, it was great. I wish we got more lovey-dovey scenes. I know, I know, a story doesn't have to have love scenes to be good. But we spent so much time with them and their developing relationship, I think it would have been a satisfying wrap-up.
- The last episode: As someone that was enjoying the show pretty thoroughly, the last episode felt quite flat because of some character arcs (Miaoqing, Tongzhou) and lack of time with the ML and FL, instead spending time with side characters.
- Demon lord's eyeliner: Super specific but it was genuinely distracting, sad because he looks amazing otherwise
Lastly, I have to rant as someone that was seeing the comments while this was airing:
Jiang Lifei and Lei Xuiyuan were a lot of fun to watch when you ignore the dozens of people that believe Lifei should just ignore the people around her and just go along with Xiuyuan. I really don't understand people, he betrayed her trust in the beginning (which she forgives him for, mind you), and in the final arc it LOOKS like he has caused the deaths of multiple people close to her indirectly and directly (we as the audience know it wasn't him, but she doesn't!). It is so ridiculous to think she should just ignore all of this, things that make it look like they really are fated to cause doom, and follow along with everything he says. Her taking time to make her own plans and find out the truth is what makes her a good FL. In fact the relationship and trials between the ML and FL are what feel the strongest to me in this drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
