This review may contain spoilers
I'm gonna say this straight up: this is probably the best wuxia/fantasy/adventure/epic drama I've watched. Multiple factors add to this such as cast, script, BEAUTIFUL cinematography, actually good CGI and so on. Story: The story was very fleshed out and complex, and did the novel justice. Each character, even the minor ones felt like they were placed wherever they were for a purpose and not just as a tool for the plot to move on. The plot was a little draggy in some parts but as I don't really pay attention to these things I didn't take any points off for it. One thing I can say is that I never felt like I wanted to take a break from the series (as I do with a LOT of Chinese and Korean dramas) or drop it. In fact, if I ever missed something accidentally, I would go back and rewatch it in case I missed something important. I also fast forward and speed up my other dramas, but I didn't for this one which I think expresses my devotion haha. The plot is also quite original and there are certain things that set it apart from other wuxia fantasy shows. For example, the fight scenes are very realistic. The opening scene really shocked me as you can see the work the crew and actors have done to make it look and feel real (it worked). Also, the regular tropes that other dramas used are completely changed in this drama. For example, in one of the scenes, the Emperor says (I can't remember exactly what he said oops) "A child born of royalty can live and take revenge, but the child of a doorkeeper can't? What sort of rubbish idea is this?" And this actually made me think...
Acting/Cast: Chen Feiyu, being quite young, filled the shoes of the complicated NingQue very well. He was good at expressing happiness, shamelessness, and quick-fire retaliation with his words. His smug face when he won something from someone is so endearing. I would give him personally a 9.5 for acting as just a few scenes (mostly of negative emotions) felt off. Song Yiren was absolutely amazing, and I would say she is the best main character of the show, She was perfect at expressing child-like dependence and admiration for NingQue as SangSang. She also showed off SangSang's practicality and work ethic very well, as well as her underlying love for NingQue. The romance between the two is extremely subtle in the first half, but from episode 40 or so when NingQue returns with Mo ShanShan, it begins to show as the two are forced to confront each other with what they really want from each other. I loved the endearing way NingQue treated SangSang, you could tell that even though he made fun of her and treated her as a maid sometimes, he really cared for her and would do anything for her. In one scene, he says "SangSang isn't the door to my life, she is my life." Oh God. The other side characters did very well in their roles. I found YanSe and WeiGuangMing particularly astounding, and I'm glad some veteran actors had big roles in the drama (unlike some dramas which only focus on the young actors to attract more audiences). Other characters I loved were ChenPiPi (and his bromance with NingQue and his cuteness), YeHongYu (as NingQue said: "You are THE strongest woman I've ever met."), LiYu (the princess of Tang, an ambitious woman) and every person in the Upper Story.
Music: I like most of the songs in the OST and some of them are very suited to a particular character or setting. For example back in the army they would sing the song "Take your life" and so on. However there would be a song for a particular character but then used for another character which was awkward (but it was a nice song so I didn't mind).
Rewatch value: Okay so the only reason I won't rewatch this is because it's kinda long. Also there's a second season, so I'll just wait for that. BUT the second season won't have Chen Feiyu, which is a shame as I grew used to his face and acting style. The romance and other relationships won't be the same... I've heard news that the main lead in the second season is going to be Dylan Wang, who played DaoMingSi in Meteor Garden. I found his character childish in that and kind of restricted to a few emotions (I didn't even finish, stopped at episode 30) so we'll see how it goes.
10/10 recommend!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Cultivation, Revenge and Sang Sang
This was such a great drama watching experience. Ning Que and Sang Sang are one of my favourite OTPs now. My stingy, poor, ride or die babies. They were always 'the one' for each other even when they didn't know they loved each other romantically. Found family trope went hard in this drama and that's part of the reason why I love it so much. NQ and SS came to the capital with barely anything; just their big umbrella, knives to cut people up with and a hunger for revenge. And by the end, they both had other people who cared for them, protected them, took their hand to teach them how to make it into the Cultivation world, stood by their side no matter what and became their support. It touched my heart how the Tang Academy seniors helped NQ prepare for his big fight with Xia Hou, how First Senior Brother was panicking and thinking how to protect NQ in the final fight and how they trusted NQ to beat Xia Hou against all odds. Yan Se, Fu Zi, General Ma and the Grand Priest of Light all very different characters with complexities but each one a great teacher/guardian.Apart from the found family, I loved Ning Que's journey from being the weakest cultivator in the room to being Ke Haoran's successor and even by the end, he still has a long way to reach the top but for that I have to read the novel because Season 2 is, well... not good. Ning Que's journey to climb up the ladder in the cultivation world was filled with him begging powerful cultivators to teach him, only to be rejected again and again, him not yielding and striving again and again, finally becoming Fu Zi's disciple all while working to bring justice to his murdered family. Everything he achieved was so earned.
My favourite characters in no particular order would be the Tang Academy seniors (they are all so wholesome, it's hard to not love them), Chao Xiaoshu (he didn't appear for much time considering how it's a 60 episodes drama but he stole the show whenever he was on screen. what a man.), the teachers who taught NQ and SS, Tang Xiaotang (she's so full of fire and energy and dreams), and of course the OTP.
I wouldn't say it's a perfect drama but it has so much good about it that I could care less for the flaws. Highly recommend to anyone who hasn't watched it.
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Epic World, Fierce Battles
Ever Night gathers an impressive cast and delivers a well-crafted fantasy world with strong production value. The visuals are rich, the world-building is immersive, and the action sequences are choreographed with intensity and flair—each fight scene is genuinely thrilling to watch.The lead actor, though a bit green in his performance, fits the role of Ning Que with a youthful energy and rawness that align with the character’s journey. His growth throughout the season helps anchor the narrative emotionally, even if he’s not the most refined actor in the lineup.
Unfortunately, while Season 1 sets a high standard, Season 2 is a letdown. Changes in casting and tone break the continuity, and the overall quality drops noticeably. It’s a shame this derailed the potential for a Season 3.
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The relationship between Ning Que and Sang Sang is complex due to their unusual circumstances and there are multiple layers to their dynamic. She initially appears to be a maid who happens to be very fond of the person she serves, but it's quickly evident that their power dynamic is not quite that cut-and-dried. When he was a young child, he found her as a baby in a pile of corpses and took her in. They are a few years apart in age, and although he was obviously her caretaker in her younger years, it wasn't too long before she was carrying her own weight. He has made a living by killing bandits, while she has taken care of domestic chores and finances. There are subtle elements of caretaker-dependent and older brother-younger sister to their interactions at times, but overall they seem best described as platonic life partners for the first thirty or so episodes (with occasional, subtle hints of romantic feelings/attraction).
Later in the series, when Ning Que shows up with a love interest after a period of being away from home, they're forced to confront their true feelings and figure out what they really want. It's pretty obvious just by the fact that Sang Sang is the second lead which way Ning Que will lean (or even by the synopsis on this page), so I don't think this could be considered a spoiler. I watched this drama on Viki with comments on, so I know how divisive their relationship is. It is an upsetting development for some viewers who only see one aspect of Ning Que and Sang Sang's dynamic. Some viewers consider Ning Que to be too much of a father figure to Sang Sang to accept the turn their relationship takes, claiming (or implying) that it is incest. I personally don't agree with this viewpoint – but if you think the relationship could be squicky for you based on how I described it, and you believe that would interfere too much with your enjoyment of the series as a whole, you may want to give this one a pass. Just a heads up.
I rated this drama highly in large part because I really enjoyed most of the characters and the main relationship (I can forgive a lot if I become attached to the characters), however I did feel that there were some issues with the plot. The pacing is a bit uneven, and the exposition scenes are quite dull at times. Although there were a couple of exceptions, I felt that the antagonists were much too one-dimensional. The character arc for one of the main antagonists – Long Qing – particularly felt like a waste of time. Most of his scenes could have been left out and the result would have been the same. That was especially irritating given that his scenes were so tedious to watch. The last ten episodes are sluggish and feel like they could have been cut in half (at least). In fact, the same could be said for the series as a whole - but that has been true with almost any Chinese drama I've seen.
Another thing that I found off-putting is that, sometimes, some of the characters would know what's going on in a distant location without any apparent reason - as if they were watching it on television. When it was Fu Zi - who is generally considered the greatest cultivator in the world - I decided to just go with it. It didn't make sense, but whatever. When it was Fu Zi's disciples, I also just accepted it; they learned it from him, I guessed. But when it was still used with characters who had no background in cultivation, it became kind of aggravating. No matter what, it feels like lazy writing, but there really should be some brief explanation given for something like that. Similarly, there were many times when characters received news quicker than really seemed believable. Things like this were just minor annoyances, but they did pull me out of the viewing experience.
I've read some criticisms of Chen Feiyu (Arthur Chen)'s acting, but I didn't think he was a bad Ning Que overall. He was actually pretty expressive, though unevenly so; he was effective at conveying affection/infatuation and anger/aggression, but fell short in scenes that required him to express emotional anguish and physical pain. One thing that I found a bit annoying is that he frequently raises/moves his eyebrows in a way that kind of looks like they're spasming. Sometimes the eyebrow raise is effective, but more often it's not. That aside, I became attached to his character in spite of his considerable shortcomings, and some of that was due to Feiyu's charm and charisma. (Note: He won't be returning to the role in the second season due to scheduling conflicts; he will be replaced by Dylan Wang.)
I felt that Song Yiren (Ireine Song)'s acting was stronger; she was lively, sweet, and adorable as Sang Sang. Whatever the scene called for, she was almost always able to hit the right emotional notes. When I watched the trailer, the only thing I had reservations about was her character, so it's kind of ironic that she ended up being my favorite. I looked forward to her scenes most, and I'm very glad Song Yiren will be returning for a second season. There were many great supporting characters, and the other actors were quite good overall. I enjoyed the fact that several older characters had prominent roles in the story, and they also ended up being among the most interesting characters to watch (most notably Chin Shih Chieh as Yan Se and Ni Dahong as Wei Guangming).
So, tl;dr:
Pros – memorable characters, cute relationship, great action scenes, beautiful cinematography, lovely OST, mostly good CGI
Cons – one-dimensional antagonists, potentially squicky relationship (YMMV)
If you're into action/adventure and fantasy dramas, and you don't think that the main relationship would negatively impact your ability to enjoy the series, then definitely give this one a shot.
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The camerawork is outstanding. You may not notice or care but most dramas are not shot like this. This is theater-quality filming with all on-location and natural weather settings. You can see the snow falling and melting into the actor's hairs. The wide angle aerial shots make those vast desert landscapes and green mountains seem to burst out of the screen. Just for the visuals alone this drama is worth multiple rewatches.
The story is this grand world that's on par with something like Game of Thrones. Deeply detailed with multiple kingdoms and all coherent and well-established. You can tell this drama is based on a well-written novel. The key driving force are the characters of course. Arthur Chen does an amazing job as Ning Que. He is charismatic and fun to watch on-screen. His chemistry with Song Yi Ren (Sang Sang) is fantastic. You can tell he is a rather young actor in some of the scenes that require deeper emotions and subtlety but he really holds his own against super veteran actors and a grand-scale epic story like this. Can't believe he is only 19 with lots of room to grow.
They really didn't skimp on anything for this drama. At a budget of $70 million USD (quite unheard of for tv dramas), everything is high quality. The costumes are realistic and so are the sets (again, money well-spent on those on-location shoots). Also, no poor wire tricks here. The action sequences are again movie quality. Very well choreographed and executed. Each movement is so tightly done and well-executed. For an action buff like me I just couldn't get enough. The thing I noticed the most? The soundtrack. From the opening scene to the various character themes the music is amazing. Just listening to it transports you back to the scenes and characters.
Obviously I can't say enough about this drama. I think I was just taken really aback by how well made this drama is. I haven't seen work like this since HK's Golden Age. It makes me hopeful of many of the C-Dramas that will come out of China in the coming years. Although Arthur Chen is not coming back for Season 2, which is extremely disappointing, I will watch Season 2 if it has the same high production value as Season 1.
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Beware of false prophets.
Ever Night is an epic fantasy adventure hit set in a mystical, ancient world where the balance of power between rival kingdoms is maintained with the aid of powerful warlords and cultivator sects. The vivid stunning palette is infused with an ominous sense of dark prophecy. The soothsayers warn that the child of darkness will bring an ice age or ever night and chaos to the world.The main protagonist Ning Que makes an thrilling debut as a lethal, almost ferally vicious warrior in a ferocious, spectacular desert ambush. This opening sets the tone for some of the most exhilarating and well choreographed fight scenes that Chinese drama has to offer. The drama is visually spectacular and delivers on the hype on many fronts, especially in terms of its movie quality production values. The sweeping breadth of the story can be overwhelming in the sheer number of characters representing different kingdoms and sects that makes the story appear more complicated than it really is. This is really the story of Ning Que (and by extension Sang Sang's) quest for revenge that sets him on an epic journey to become one of the strongest cultivators in Haotian.
Ning Que is an anti-hero. He is ruthless, cunning, manipulative and can be quite dishonourable. While at at times Chen Feiyu's acting could do with some polishing, he is superbly cast as Ning Que. He emanates that simmering resentment and burning thirst for vengeance that propels Ning Que to prevail against overwhelming odds and superior foes. With his lithe powerful build, his combat scenes are bloodthirsty and violent and his facial expressions are vicious, almost feral. Ning Que's arch-rival the glorious Prince Longqing is an interesting mirror character on a parallel path that makes different choices at important milestones along the way. What is quite remarkable about this story is there are no outright villains. The world they exist in is cruel and fraught with peril and conflict among competing interests. Thus both the antagonists and protagonists have to do ruthless, even terrible things to survive.
Unlike others, I am not troubled by the relationship between Sang Sang and Ning Que. They have no blood ties, they are simply found family and have a complex and multi-layered relationship that is likely predestined. In fact, I think it is inevitable where the relationship must go. As much as I enjoy their undeniable chemistry and clear bond immensely, to me the real issue is that Chen Feiyu and Song Yiren should never be cast together in a romantic capacity. Chen Feiyu is exceptionally tall and Song Yiren is exceptionally petite. Her youthful features and small size makes her look like a child next to him. This visual imprint is so strong it is practically impossible to imagine them as a couple. Their relationship in Season 1 remains platonic and is not troubling but it is a good thing that Wang Hedi replaces Chen Feiyu as Ning Que for Season 2.
In terms of storytelling, there are issues with pacing and the breadth and depth of the character and world building is perhaps overly ambitious in scale. Even though I love how there are different schools of cultivation and cultivators are able to gain immense power via different theologies and practices, I find the excessive pontification and philosophical discourses mind numbingly boring. That said, I appreciate the ultimate irony of how many powerful cultivators are ruled by superstition and fear of ever night or the child of darkness. While the worthy ruler and the true wise men know to beware of false prophets. The political arcs are not that interesting and Princess Li Yu and her brother don't add to the plot. They just take up space and despite all the screen time, this and several other sub plots like the inner politics of the West Shrine and Yan State go absolutely nowhere. Obviously this lays the back story for multiple (?) seasons but unfortunately none of these sub plots and characters are interesting enough to make me want know what happens to them.
Despite the digressions and morass in the middle, the drama builds towards a very strong ending. I was truly moved by Ning Que's speech when he finally confronts his family's killer and I was really impressed by Chen Yufei's acting in that moment. "Why does it always have to be a prince?" is one of the best, most memorable lines from this show. The build up in tension, that sense of dread and hope into the ending confrontation is superb. The final fight scene is epic, full of surprises, utterly savage, desperate, exhilarating. It was everything I didn't even know I was craving for. Even the CGI is amazing.
I thoroughly enjoyed many aspects of this heroic saga and I am happy to recommend this as a not to be missed drama for action and adventure buffs. But unfortunately there are many parts of it that I did not enjoy and I feel strongly that the production over indulged in laying the backstory for many subplots that only play out in subsequent seasons. I am going to go with an 8.5 because the production values and fight scenes are exceptional. Going purely on storytelling alone however, this is at best an 8.0.
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Brilliant
No other Wuxia can compare to this in my opinion. The sheer breadth and depth of the story make for a viewing pleasure that holds the audience captive through 60 episodes and this is firstly thanks to the superb casting of Chen Feiyu as the ML. He is an anti-hero character who is supremely confident, intelligent, and powerful and I will never forget how fully immersed he was in such a dark character considering how unobtrusive he is in real life.Can we talk about the beautiful cinematography and the immaculate fight choreography that will have your heart in your mouth even knowing he’s the hero doesn’t mean his opponents just roll over to play dead? He wins despite many odds because of his tenacity and unwillingness to succumb to what some call his lowly fate.
The FL is a pocket-size bundle of joy who made me smile whenever she came on the screen. The character of Sang Sang is one that was built incrementally until we see her come into her own. I also liked the height difference between her and Feiyu. So adorable. Anyway, this is one to rewatch.
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Amazing!!!
Watched this drama when it aired!!! Now I'm back to watching it again because there is no other drama as great as this one!!! This drama and the Untamed are the only 2 dramas I have re-watch so many times!!Loved Arthur and Irene in here!!!
Their chemistry was so real and so great!!! Arthur was amazing!!!
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Fantastic Drama!!
The plot is so good. Chen Feiyu was just 17 years old when it was shoot, he really did a great job as Ning Que. In this genre being so young, he portrayed the character perfectly. I love the innocent love between Ning Que and Sangsang. Other actors also did a great job. Specially, Meng Zi Yi caught my eyes.Was this review helpful to you?
Brilliant!! Excellent!!
After a long time, finally I watched this epic drama which has a captivating plot with perfect execution and excellent presentation.The plot is all about Ning Que,the male protagonist,who sets on a quest for revenge to avenge the massacre of General Lin and all the people in his manor.
Firstly,the locations were scenic and excellent.To be precise,they are the main reason this drama keeps you engaging and continuing forward.A big thumbs up to all the locations and sceneries.
Next,the costumes were perfect and very good.They really made the scenes grand.
The screenplay was well paced.All.the scenes were perfectly linked and written and well executed.
The palace and Tang empire was bright and lively.I really liked the Tang empire and also the emperor.He is a sensible person who is very decisive and prevails justice and protects his citizens and country.He deserves a special appreciation.Leon Lai 's acting was also on point and excellent!!
Arthur Chen who plays Ning Que,has really brought life to the character.He is arrogant,reckless,yet helping,caring,responsible, hardworking,dedicated person.His rise from nobody to the Thirteenth teacher of Tang academy and then the protector of Tang empire is stellar.It is really inspiring.
Sang sang,played by Song Yiren,is my most lovable character in this series.She is cute, innocent, calculative,helping,loving and the most lovely character.
Ning Que and Sang Sang relationship deserves a special mention.Their relationship is though complicated,but still stands as an epitome of pure ,devoted and rare love in this world.I love how they care for each other and how Ning Que always stresses that Sang Sang is his life.
Fu Zi,Chen Pipi,First, Second,Fourth,Fifth,Sixth,Eight,Ninth, Tenth,Eleventh senior brothers and third and seventh senior sisters are the most impressive characters in this drama.The whole Tang academy is a lovable place.I like how they always support each other, especially how they stand with their Little Junior brother in all his endeavours.A big 👍 to the whole Tang academy.
Old Ma,Tang Xiaotang,Mo Shanshan,Chao Xiaoshu,are also very good people.I liked their roles and performances too.
All the actors were perfect and I can never imagine anyone else in their roles.
The brotherhood between Chen Pipi and Ning Que is really interesting and and very good.I like how always he gets the support of his twelfth brother.
Hu Jun and Sun Zu Jun were excellent as Xia House and Long Qing respectively.They are really the perfect antagonists.
The action scenes deserve a special appreciation.The fight choreography is excellent.Music is good and apt.
The whole journey of Ning Que has been very interesting for me.I really loved this drama.
A big Thumbs up 👍 to the Ever night team.A must watch drama!!!!
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Wuxia Game Of Thrones
I have seen my fair share of wuxia dramas, and this remains one of the most interesting, refreshing, and ultimately my favorite wuxia series of all time (not including Ever Night 2. I pretend that doesn't exist). I'd like to compare it to Game Of Thrones; a fresh take on a familiar genre, while bringing a sense of grounded storytelling, excellent pacing, and an intriguing cast of rich, diverse, and believable characters, complimented by outstanding action, political intrigue, and fantastical abilities all within a vast and sprawling world.The first thing that hits you is the exquisite cinematography, engrossing and unique settings, dynamic action sequences, and the witty, cocksure charisma of Chen Feiyu. And you meet the adorable FL (Ireine Song) as the seemingly simple Sang Sang; a hard-nosed yet endearing character that matures into something more nuanced and unique that stands apart from your typical FLs in wuxia dramas. The chemistry between ML and FL is also not the typical dynamic you usually see in wuxia shows. I really loved how they handled their complex relationship. It then unfolds different kingdoms, cities, rulers, generals, families, sects, and tribes. You meet different royals with their machinations and political factions, you meet the different schools and masters of differentiated styles and abilities, and you even meet low-level gangsters and street merchants. Even the antagonists are varied and compelling. I won't spoil who the main antagonist is and in all honesty, it's arguable who actually is the main antagonist.
And like all great dramas, the side/supporting characters feel fully fleshed out and interesting with different backgrounds and perspectives (particular standouts like the scheming Grand Prince Li Pei Yan, The dopey yet affable 12th disciple Chen Pi Pi, the roguishly enigmatic Dragon Gang leader Chao Xiao Shu, or the unyielding Daoist Yi Hong Yu played by the chronic scene-stealing Meng Zi Yi. Also love seeing Hong Kong mega popstar legend Leon Lai as the King!). They all feel like they have their own agency, issues, motivations, and objectives. They aren't just 1-dimensional caricatures to serve as plot fodder or backdrops for the leads. Even a lesser yet significant side character like General Ma is incredibly interesting. You immediately understand the depth of his relationship with the ML, often in scenes where their dialogue is saying one thing but their superb acting and chemistry are telling you something else entirely.
With so many characters, kingdoms and plot points one would worry that the story would be all over the place or unfocused, yet not once did I feel like the narrative strayed or muddied, mainly due to the excellent writing and pacing. Never once did I feel like I'm going from scene to scene of people just talking, regurgitating already known information, and not really adding anything significant to the plot: aka chewing the scenery (something often overused in Ever Night 2 and many other wuxia dramas to stretch the plot, save costs and meet episode count). Ever Night still manages to hit many of the similar beats of the typical wuxia drama, but just manages to do it better, put fresh spins on tired troupes, and explore multiple narratives and character arcs efficiently and effectively while still managing to tell a cohesive and satisfying story. Often I will be watching the latest wuxia drama and think, "Ever Night did it better." Not to mention little to no drop off in quality throughout the series which in itself is a feat. Sometimes wuxia productions will wow you with an early spectacle and then a steep drop-off for the rest of the series.
But ultimately, this is very much the ML's and FL's story as we journey with them through this expansive world of eclectic characters that seem to change and grow along with them. At the heart of this story is the lead's relationship with each other and how their characters endure and evolve through their many trials, tribulations, and adventures. The side and supporting characters are interesting and impactful while not overshadowing the leads. The world is lush and lived in. The action is spectacular. The political intrigue keeps you on your toes and doesn't drag. The cinematography is breathtaking. The production, writing, and pacing are all on point. The OST is iconic, sweeping, and legendary. I don't give out many perfect 10s, this is one of them.
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