Yang Yang deliveres on the hype
I loved it till the end, not a single episode felt boring. No one could have played Han Li better, he excelled every aspect of the character. I hope Season 2 to come soon and have Yang Yang as Han Li again, I won't be able to digest any other actor leading this drama.I just hope next the there's a bit more emotions into play in the next part, people doesn't keep dying like ants. And I also hope it to deliver more on the romance prospect, it felt completely lackluster this season with the female lead have almost no screen time, even other support female characters had more screen time then her.
I just hope that season 2 is aired in the first half of 2026.
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Goosebumps from the start
I watched the first 4 episodes today and it didn’t disappoint me! It was just amazing! Seeing Yang Yang also and his acting skills is superb! From young to cultivated, wow just wow!The effects are amazing - it gives me goosebumps especially the fighting scenes.
The wait is really worth it! Yang Yang also proves how versatile and effective actor he is.
I am just loving it and looking forward for the next episodes to be available! 🫶♥️
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This review may contain spoilers
Who paid for this drama to be made?
This drama was genuinely the most chaotic thing I've seen in a while. I've only seen the drama I haven't read the novel or seen any other adaptations of this so I went in completely blind. Don't get me wrong I'm a fan of Yang Yang, he's such a fave but this drama was not it. Imo even he could not salvage whatever wreck this is. I get that it's supposed to be a record so it comes across as someone retelling tales of things that happened in their life but this makes it really disjointed. All of Hang Li's interactions with women is also weird AF. He has a nice face so everyone is attracted to him but he's above all of that he just wants to cultivate and get to the next level. Every single female character that tries to get to know him better he just either ignores until they get the hint or when he starts to pity them he finally lets them down easy. It leaves everything very open-ended in that aspect. The war is weird, the way he never revisited his family like "hey mom and dad I know you sent me into the mountains to cultivate and I sent you home some money ps I'm still alive", that might've been useful but nope. Overall watch once if you're bored...but probably you won't finish because the story is all over the place.Was this review helpful to you?
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Good if you're okay with plot line and character inconsistencies
The world-building is fantastic, with breath-taking camera pans of stunning natural landscapes and some of the best action sequences I’ve seen in Wuxia.Unfortunately, the show suffers from weak character development, plot holes, and a reliance on coincidences to push the story forward. The pacing is slow, and many key moments feel unearned. For example, one of the main villains is walking across a vast plain when, out of nowhere, one of the female leads just happens to be running across it too, without any clear reason.
The sects also feel strangely inactive. While a hierarchy exists, grandmasters and masters seem to do little beyond handing books to disciples. In one baffling decision, the Seven Sects, who have historically fought against the demon sects—suddenly refuse to defend innocent lives and instead take a defensive stance when the big war arrives. They even prohibit anyone above a certain cultivation level from fighting, choosing instead to lounge around, gamble, and make “comedic” small talk while their disciples die defending themselves and the sect.
Many events don’t make sense. The main character is introduced as having fake spirit roots and being unable to ascend to the Foundational level, yet when he does, nobody reacts to it. He also repeatedly defeats opponents with much higher cultivation levels with little explanation.
If you’re fine with some mindless fun and a main character who powers up despite glaring inconsistencies, it can still be an entertaining watch. But the plot holes and lack of internal logic make it hard to take seriously. I’ll see it through to the end, but it’s definitely fallen short of its potential and the promise of its wonderful world-building.
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Yang Yang Ascending!
Episodes 14 - 24 there is no rest with this story it is powering ahead! I’m just so thankful the subtitles are much better now too so thank you to the production team for small mercies hehe.Episodes 5 - 13 it’s been a mix between The Matrix and Neverending Story, I’m hooked. The se? scene in ep 12 was the weirdest love making I’ve ever seen, you need to watch it to believe it, but all things being equal it kinda bizarely fits, one word ‘surrealism’ lol.
Episodes 1 - 4 are delivering story! The opening credits gave me The Untamed vibes so very ready for action.
The opening sequence does not dissappoint, so fast, and I’m hooked from the sad story opening.
CGI is excellent. Unfortunately, the subtitles aren’t quite right so hopefully they get fixed up a little bit more. The opening OST was average.
Great start and looking forward more of Yang Yang.
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Shallow
This show did not translate well from animation to live action. One dimensional characters that I have a hard time caring for. Very forced flashbacks whenever a character died, some with less than 5 minutues screentime. Power progression felt non existent, and couldn't really see the leap from Qi to Foundation. Alchemy also felt very lacklustre and not as extensive as in the animation. Dropped at episode 22 out of sheer boredom. Han Li and Mo are the only semi decent characters, but not enough to carry this lifeless adaptation.Was this review helpful to you?
YANG SPECIAL
I think after watching the whole show, which is very flawed in every plot. It is safe to say it is for Yang fans only. If we remove Yang from the story, the whole show looks like shit.Acting is okay, but I wanted to ask the maker why you even put FL lead there when you have no useful plot for her. Such a waste of talent.
Okay to watch, nothing to embrace. Hope to see another good drama from Yang. Thanks
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?
This drama purely about immortality and cultivation .after years of waiting i can finally see YY .Okay about story... What the writer tring to say?
Han li will purchase some treasure he will use in the upcoming fights again he buy some treasure again use in fights this drama fully about low cgi fights, immortality, cultivation i don't see any emotions connections between leads or senior junior.
Where is chemistry/romance?
Forget about chemistry/romance lead couple don't share screentime at all!!! FL have screen time about 10mins throughout the 30 episode damn .only 2 SFL one from mortal world one from same sect will follow him have a crush on him.FL and ML have intimate scene in their first meet later they do their own business don't care about each other ..Like What???? If he have SFL why can't writer add FL to the Plot??? Like WTH??
It's not like TBOY or Dashing youth not about friendship purely about damn immortal cultivation damn...
I'm sorry but I hate this plot
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Horrible show
dont even bother. it starts of slow and decent then ends in a huge mess and a cliff hanger. Nothing gets resolved. the pacing is awful. story is awful. special effects are awful. Im just glad at the same time legend of the female general was airing and i had something good to actually watchEverything is terrible about this show. No redeeming qualities unless you a yang yang mindless fan girl, that which i am not. Theres barely any character development. No emotional development. Fight scenes are ridiclous like shooting lasers and fireballs. I normally cant stand the xian xia genre but this one makes me detest it even more
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When all the great ingredients failed to make a beautiful dish
The premise of this fantasy Chinese drama about a simple country boy with no special powers and lacks ambitions, going through life with a passion to grow and learn is classics as time. The best part is watching our protagonist grow into the hero that he is. Unfortunately the show is filled with so many characters that diluted the essence of the story. Some characters were introduced but led to nowhere and makes one wonder what was that all about. Even the antagonists were confusing to the point that there was no single entity who took the role. So was this good vs evil or dumb vs dumber? The show felt like watching The Hunger games met Harry Potter and the video game Destiny. Acting was good but lack depth and sincerity. My favorite parts were the fighting scene with magical powers which were beautifully done but other than that we could have skipped 20 episodes or maybe needed another 10 episodes to expand on the storylines.
Our protagonist had a personality of a toad who only loved to swallow everything in front of him. The introduction of a love story only to end with nothing felt like a hitting the wall at high speed.
Just like the love story lost in the muddy waters, there was not enough focus for his friendship to grow with his best friend, albeit a soulless body wearing a mask. Not sure why he has to wear a mask at all.
The show has so much potential starting out in the first epsisodes only to be messed up by bad script writing and poor editing. What is unfortunate when the storyline goes awry is that the ending is even worse. Maybe there will be another season based on how it ends yet at this point I really didn’t know who to root for and why should there be another season. If there is another season with a really bad storyline or script please spare us the agony of figuring out the essence of this show.
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A top-quality fantasy drama
The Immortal Ascension is an amazing xianxia drama that delivers a fantastic story.It follows Han Li as he grows from a simple young man into a skilled cultivator, facing dangerous enemies, rival sects and secrets of immortality.
Each story arc brings new challenges and interesting characters with clever twists that keep the plot exciting and unpredictable.
The pacing is great, balancing action-packed battles with quieter moments that let viewers connect with Han Li and the people around him.
Yang Yang gives an outstanding performance, fully showing Han Li’s growth, determination and emotions.
He makes both the intense fight scenes and the quiet, emotional moments feel real.
The production of the drama is also impressive. The visuals are beautiful, with detailed sets and amazing CGI that make the mystical world come alive.
The fight scenes are exciting and well-choreographed, and the music fits perfectly, making both action and emotional scenes stronger. The supporting characters are memorable and add depth to the story while Han Li stays at the center as the main focus.
Every plot twist feels earned, every conflict has meaning and the show balances action, adventure and emotions really well.
It’s immersive, exciting and hard to stop watching once you start.
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Like watching a video game
I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started this show, but given Yang Yang's performances lately (Fireworks of My Heart was too painful), I see that shows with little emotional depth & campy acting are what actually suit YY best. I've not read the book so my impressions are just from watching it as a show.In Immortal Ascension, YY plays Han Li, a poor boy from a low level cultivating family who manages to work his way up the ascension ladder through some audacity & luck. He faces many obstacles on the way, of course, but each obstacle proves to be a bridge on the road to ascension.
Han Li's first mentor suggests to him that he should not give up on his humanity on his journey to immortality. So I was searching for the human story in this show, but Han Li's interactions with other characters are superficial. I kept looking for any deep connections he might form with others, but finding none I ended up simply following his progression through the stages, exactly like watching someone play a video game.
Han Li is more selfish & immature than I was expecting. When he discovers how to make a rare & highly prized herbal pill for cultivators, instead of sharing it with the sect that generously took him in, he scarfs down an entire handful, Wukong style, all at once for himself. Han Li takes chances & is reckless for his own gain, but stands aside, hesitant to jump to others' aid. He never fights until he's either called out or forced by his own guilt. The tone of the show also carries a very juvenile video game feel & yet the very adult themes of sexual assault & one night stands are presented with all the understanding & sensitivity of a toxic man baby.
Entering the final 1/3 of the drama we see Han Li's growth into an adult catching up to these themes, but his relationships with his close colleagues don't seem to mature at the same time, particularly those with whom he goes through life & death trials. He doesn't seem to get to know anyone very well, & there's no insight into whatever inner demon is preventing him from connecting with others. There's no shortage of female characters throwing themselves at him, & yet he gives nothing in return but youth & beauty pills as gifts which shows his lack of understanding of any of them as individuals. His emotional emptiness is puzzling, & the best friend by his side is just the puppet body of the only person closest to being a friend in his life. He's a lone wolf who's self serving motives make him unsympathetic.
I realized by the end that this series is only the first season when it was apparent the story was not concluding during the painfully slow final episode. In fact, Han Li's stunted emotional development made more sense given the story was not yet finished. His journey became more interesting as a result. It's unfortunate that the pacing was so uneven. I got the sense that the source material must be more deep & meaningful than the way it was presented on screen, as occasionally a character would ask a thoughtful life question, but only very occasionally. For the moment, however, I can only take this show as a step by step manual on how to ascend, just as a point of interest. The story pacing confused me & the acting barely passable. It could've been a fantastic show with better writing but I am curious to watch the second season just the same.
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