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Totally Unreaaaal
Ok to start with my review I just want to say that I didn't plan to watch this one at first. Because I actually started to watch Stand by Me and I just want to say it didn't impress me(yet- currently at ep3). I didn't really get the vibe of noble/monarch of ChengYi in SbM so I paused that and check this one out. And huraaaaahRewatch value @8:
Because its too long for me to watch the whole series but if just snippets I'm in
Favorite parts:
1. The early parts: SiFeng's reaction towards contact with XuanJi (he's so hot and bothered haha)
2. When they had a misunderstanding abt XuanJi liking her senior and they cleared it up. His face when he learned the truth🥺
3. SiFeng teaching XuanJi how to chase away guys who hits on her (I remember the cute video of a korean kid and her mom teaching her)
4. I also like that they only play snippets of the 9 lives they shared together and not a full blown several eps. He's so pitiful and so inlove with her
5. The Jade Emperor just chillin' and asking questions like its no big deal haha
Whuut moments:
•Ok so I was at the ep30 when I saw a clip(wc is around the end part) where Rahu Ketu became XuanJi. I was like whuuuuuut, all this time SiFeng likes a man, so is this kinda like a bl at the start hehe. So after patiently watching the rest of eps to get the explanation I still can't with the shock I received from that clip haha
•LingLong and WuTong tho, man I'm always tense when they show the both of them. I hate rape scenes so I'm always at the edge 'cause he's like full-on "I wanna eat you" kinda face. Is he gonna do it? Naw, probably gonna do it now. Hoping he's not gonna do it. Maybe it was chopped while on the run. Meh
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Sweet Romance and Epic Story
L&R took me on a wild adventure and it has the sweetest romance. I went in with medium expectations - kind of high because of the ratings, kind of low because the premise seemed tropey. The storyline and world-building is what drew me in but the cast of characters is what kept my attention.Story: seems kind of tropey and predictable but actually pretty well thought out with interesting twists. The pace is pretty fast in the beginning which kept me interested and pacing is pretty good. I personally had a really hard time grasping what "loss of six senses" meant (the physical senses? also emotionless? but why does it seem more like trouble understanding social norms?) so that was an initial roadblock for me. The world-building is awesome partly in due to the excellent production and CGI. It felt like being immersed in a video game at times. It's only after finishing the drama do I realize the ending really makes this drama. In an effort to increase suspense, the drama purposely withholds things until much later. It makes for a great twist but as someone who likes to fully immerse and understand the plot, it kind of felt more like a plot hole or that the story was not well-written until the twist is revealed. Rather than an unpredictable revelation, it was more like 'oh, why didn't you just say that sooner'? The mask thing would be the best example. Some of the conflicts were overly frustrating and repetitive, which prevented me from giving a higher rating. There a few scenes that are overly flashbacked (like, you might get bits of the flashback as the story progresses, then longer versions of those bits then the entire sequence so by the end it is shown 4-5 times). On the other hand, there a few scenes or plot points that are hinted at or built up that never fully get explored. One of the villain's endings was too abrupt and it felt like all of his other characteristics were taken away. I have mixed thoughts on what they did with the female lead's character toward the end. But the overall story is cohesive with a sound message.
Characters/Acting: While the story is the foundation of the drama, the characters are the heart. I liked our main leads, which are both acted very well. I probably would not have liked these leads if it were not for the actors. The naive/cutesy/stupid female lead trope is a hit or miss (mostly miss) for me but I really liked Xuan Ji. Like I've indicated in other posts, despite her naivety, she is charmingly straightforward, relatively calm and values proper communication. When she is aware there is a problem or misunderstanding, she tries her best to fix it, through words or actions. This is very consistent throughout the drama. And her physical strength is a nice bonus. And who does not love Si Feng and his sweet devotion to our female lead? I melted at the way he would stare at her. He pretty much tops the charts for selfless love and is always silently sacrificing himself for the female lead's sake. But is that really a good thing? Si Feng is the kind of boyfriend/husband that would (if he could get away with it) hide the fact you have kidney disease, secretly donate his kidney to you and sell all of his assets to pay for the medical bills. That's...romantic, but it's also a bit much. IMO, communication is an important part of a healthy relationship. My point is, Si Feng is written as the most flawless male lead and superficially, it looks like it is the female lead that is causing all of their conflict. But (imo) he is not blameless, even though the drama never addresses this. That aside, the romance is still very touching and that two actors have a lot of chemistry.
The supporting roles are also well-written and well-acted. I loved Ting Nu, Brother Liu and Purple Fox. You could tell they had many years of cultivation under their belt because they were often the voices of reason our leads needed. Brother Liu was essentially the group relationship counselor. Wu Zhi Qi is someone who is name-dropped a lot and does not appear until very late into the show but he is so worth the wait. His causal swagger and lazy, flirty demeanor that hides a sharp eye and keen insight are so swoon worthy. But my #1 spot has to go to Teng She, who is a scene stealer and basically carries the drama. This actor is such a comedic genius; he is able to control the level of humor a scene has and also influences the other character's vibe around him. Take Hao Chen for example, who is a very serious person. The same facial expressions or eye widening that come off as serious or angry become completely comedic under Teng She's influence. Adding to that, I cannot believe he was the drama I has finished just prior to starting L&R (Miss Gu Who is Silent) and I didn't even recognize him! That aside, he is very witty and his commentary almost breaks the 4th wall. He is such a loyal friend. I loved watching his friendship with Xuan Ji because of how they trusted and supported one another. He reminds me of a more platonic version of Tal Tal in Empress Ki.
Music: beautiful, exciting and epic. The pieces were really nice to listen to on their own and really added to the emotions of the scene.
Rewatch value: I don't typically re-watch dramas but I just finished it and am skimming though episode 1 again while writing this review, mostly to help recapture my initial thoughts on this drama. Actually, it might be a better watch the second time around since I'm not so busy trying to keep everyone straight and all those details at the beginning now make sense.
Bottom line: Xianxias generally have an expectation to be epic, with an intricate storyline, detailed world-building, varied cast of characters and passionate romance spanning lifetimes. But they can get predictable, because it is always the same types of characters and same conflict . This drama does not escape from the tropes but presents them from a fresh angle. That, plus the good actin and great production make this a worthwhile watch.
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Anybody that says this drama isn’t worth it is just plain BITTER!!
I thought I would never see a drama I’ll love more than Ashes of Love(which I’m obsessed with) but this drama actually stole my whole heart and mind... everything was Epic...I literally cried my eyes out and it has tons of actions too compared to ashes of love..I’ve recommended this to some of my friends who doesn’t even watch C-dramas and they all loved it.. I’m Psyched!!! ..Kudos to everyone involved in this production..and to all those saying it was a flop..I wonder who broke y’all heart and made y’all to b so blind as to enjoy a great drama like this tbh..lol..Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This drama started out really good, until it dragged halfway through. I liked Yuan Bing Yan here better than in "My Sassy Princess" but her character became annoying towards the second half. I mainly plowed through this drama because of Cheng Yi's portrayal of a devoted man who sacrificed everything for the sake of love, including multiple deaths in several lifetimes and realms. How much more a guy can take is beyond me, but apparently a lot if you are to base on Si Feng's actions. This was supposed to be a tragic love story, with heart-wrenching moments, but what I found ridiculous are the numerous times characters are brought back to life, some who I even have long forgotten. Also, I found myself inappropriately laughing during scenes where Si Feng implores with Xuan Ji in the body of the Devil Star, as if they are starring in a body-swap BL drama. I just can't. Was this review helpful to you?
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honestly one of the top tier dramas i've watched
i just finished this drama like minutes ago and i need to rant so bare withstory:
the storyline is honestly really complicated with a bunch of plot twists and was a bit difficult to keep up with. the love story was so painful to watch and i can't even count how many times i cried during this drama. the ending was so fast, they squeezed everything into like thirty minutes. i don't really like the fact that they had a kid bc it just steers the attention away from them if there's ever a sequel. this drama was an emotional rollercoaster and if you want to cry, go ahead and watch it.
acting/cast:
i've found a new actor to respect, cheng yi is so good at playing this role, i can always sense the pain and that's what makes me cry lol. i don't really have much opinions on the rest of the cast, besides the fact that the actor who played the older sister is so annoying lmao. i heard she has a drama with cheng yi that is modern and thinking about it makes me uncomfortable.
music:
i mean it's a historical drama, the music will always be good. now i have more songs to add to my "listen if you want to cry" playlist
rewatch value:
i don't think i'll rewatch this just because it was so painful to watch si feng get hurt over and over again. the amount of times i cried out of frustration is just too many. the miscommunication and misunderstandings were so annoying to watch, i don't want to go through that again, even though i know it will be a happy ending.
overall:
again, watch it if you want to cry. i binged this in a couple days and pulled an all-nighter LOL overall great drama. just pretty stressful to watch.
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What is worth in the face of willingness?
This drama has become a bit of a cdrama classic. With raving reviews, endless pity towards the main lead and praise as the love story in the age of many others.Watching it as it came out (I am currently on a review marathon), there were various thoughts running through my head. It was all those things. A love story that stood the test of tribulations, a sense of selflessness that honestly needed to be studied, and a sense of heartlessness dispite the newly gained emotion.
A very magical and fluffy beginning as we follow the FL as she attempts to navigate the martial world (home) amidst the lack of any real emotion. Dispite this, she is of kidn nature, selfless and compassionate to her sister, family and peers. Always coming from a place of understanding and perseverence. She was always so stuborn and head on, in an almost endering way...so imagine the 180 when I say the ML and the side characters fulled by love for the story as the it went on....and I mean it whole heartedly.
The acting was ML glory. His display of pain, heartbreak, the way his eye wept and rimmed in red. It was a depiction of his character's relentless struggle. It was also so strong and willful, full of desire. He was honestly the embodiment of willingness and that effort is made if they cared enough.
If you don't love the ignorant and frustrating FL...haha boy do I have news for you.
The female lead...I honestly applaud her. I was so interested in her development in the beginning, towards the middle and end though, I was always just so frustrated. She was so headstrong in all the wrong ways. Making efforts towards the wrong things and not realizing what she did until it was all too late. She was so trapped up in her own world and I was constantly gripping my hands in resignation...hoping I could hop into the screen and shake her shoulder. I'm not sure giving someone emotions and a heart...could result in the coldest person...but it did. Well not cold, but..I certainly did not see an ounce of the warm and kind person she once was.
I really did enjoy watching it. The ost, the acting and the ML combined with the side characters that banded around him made it so much more enjoyable. I was still equally as frustrated though. Frustrated by the desire to slap all of them. The desire to rewrite some personalities. I was also needlessly invested...invested in the story, the love, the betrayal, the twisted tale of romeo and juliet lovers. I just wanted it to end with some....magic. Some fluff and some enchanting, almost blinding love and affection that was felt towards the beginning. It was also that desire that drove me towards the end and knew that this love...was a losing game.
This drama gave little me major character development. I was expressive, more outspoken and opinionated....before I developed patience and resignation. I also learned that I hate imposing on others as well as being imposed on. That sometimes, the most beautiful wings can be a secret that one holds with such contempt and disgust. Maybe somewhere out there, just my existence is displeasing someone. HAH it was an interesting thought. Imagine just existing and being the mortal enemy of the entire group of martial clans.
Anyway, I recommend....despite all I said, we can't let all the blood and tears spilt be wasted. It is a watch that will uhh be imprinted in your memory. It was honestly something I can't forget. A drama so fresh in my memory even now...all these years later. It is by no means a right of passage or anything grand like that. But it is a hallmark of cdrama romance. A fantasy wuxia that wrote itself into history as a staple....of suffering, love, and willingness.
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A full package, totally worth waiting
Love this drama from the beginning to endThe story was captivating, keeping me glued to my screen
It was so well acted
And the ost is so cooling
I love this drama too much,for me it is perfection.
The casting was totally on point
From the Heros to the villians you can't help loving them
The vice palace chief was very much it
He made the show even better.
I doubt ever finding something so addictive
It just gives the feeling of authenticity
It will definitely take a while to get over this piece if I do get over it
Overall the drama is captivating to watch
Prepare your tissues though
Let this drama take you on an amazing ride
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No matter how good one is, there are some who will hate them.
No wonder, when it comes to best xianxia lists, LaR is always one of the best. I couldn't search the right praise about this but one thing is for sure, i will always ask God to give me my own kind of SiFeng. This is also my first time watching a xianxia where a female lead is stronger that the male lead, nevertheless, both powers are excellent! The male lead could really protect the female lead easily. Also, the amount of frustrations whenever Xuanji don't believe Sifeng, and will stick to what the elders' sect are saying and her Senior annoying Hao Chen.And for me, the title itself gives justice to the whole content of the series. For me, LOVE of xuanji and sifeng, and REDEMPTION for Dijun and Star of Mosha. Nevertheless, they're connected with each other. Stunning CGI and OSTs!!
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Thank You Cheng Yi.
Rated= 7 ~ 37/50 ~ 7.4RPG Scene // Mages falling in love in the Enchanted Forest. Staffs summoning cherry blossoms
*edit*
Rewatch Value Rating has changed from a 1 to a 7
I am now such a kiwi that not only did Cheng Yi get me to watch this show for him, I have now found myself rewatching it because of him as I understand that a lot of his characters are tragic with sad endings, whereas this one is a satisfying conclusion. People are more than their face. This was his breakthrough role and I can see why 💕
***
I was told that Cheng Yi is still alive at the end of the series so I made it to the end alive with him but feeling just as comatose.
I am starting to pick up on cues in the first few episodes that tell me whether or not I'm going to like a show. This is one of those shows. I initially dropped this at episode 3 but Mysterious Lotus Casebook is defeating every other C-drama as my favourite C-drama right now and I'm a little in love with Cheng Yi and I wanted more of him so I picked it up again just for him. I was honestly not interested in any one else. I was skipping the sister (I found her very annoying) and 6th senior scenes loads of times before I was interested in them. I skipped a lot of side stories. It was around episode 21 when Cheng Yi starts getting tortured was when I finally stopped skipping and paying attention.
The FL not having her 6th senses didn't make a lot of sense to me because she could still see and hear and smell etc so she technically still had them but a minor thing I could overlook. The one thing I had a big problem with was the cheesey battle moments. I found this very cringey at times when Xuangi would unleash her powers and you would get this Power rangers style level up. I would burst out laughing when I was supposed to be cheering her on. She starts off as the typical FL in too many asian dramas. Naive, childish and a little stupid passed off as innocent. Listen, I get that she doesn't have her senses and doesnt feel the same way as others but she falls face first into Cheng Yi's lap while he's sitting in a bath and just continues like, oh, wait, I dropped something and just smiles happily while she gropes around the tub, and my sweet boy is just sitting there, cupping his manhood, speechless. I mean, I laughed but really? That's not innocence, that's just dense.
This pretty much continues until she realises that she's the reincarnated God of War. After that, we lose the naivety, and we get a deeply manipulated and emotional FL instead. Again. This is where Cheng Yi saved me because I would give up with this kind of character and would make jokes about taking a shot every time you hear 'Si Feng'.
But Cheng Yi. I like his work. I like his face. I like his voice. He calms me and I was able to find my grounded centre every time he appeared. He did the best with the character he had been given. He does seem a little bit more stiff in this series but that may be how he's was told to play the character, who's whole purpose is to get beaten and abused through out most of the series. His whole purpose is to love and redeem and the FL which can feel a little flat after a while. But again, my bias saved me here. If it had been anyone else or if I didn't know Cheng Yi, I'd have dropped this series really quickly.
Another notable mention is Liu Xue Yi. This is the 3rd series I've seen with him and he's creeping up beside Cheng Yi in my favouritism. If I didn't know this actor, I would have been wanting to rip his eyes out but I actually enjoyed watching him play an incredibly hateable villain, which makes it easier when you are faced with a character like Hao. He's the worst kind of villain because he's obsessed with his own self righteousness and he's a little psychotic, that I honestly found it a little strange at the end that everyone felt sorry for him while he just faded into dust to be reborn as a mortal, WHILE MY BOY is lying fricking bleeding and dead for the 100th time.
The Jade Emperor is probably the most useless, all powerful character I think I've ever seen.
By episode 40, I was back to skipping again. It lost it's momentum for me and as per trend, the last stretch of episodes just went off the wall crazy that I was rolling my eyes at just how ridiculous and off the wall the plot got. It wasn't enough for Xaungi to be the God of War, she's the Devil Star as well. And was a man. So I can imagine a lot of people just being like huh? by the time they get to those episodes. The ending was also ridiculous but at least it was a happy conclusion. Cheng Yi was Momma while Xuangi ran around drinking and enjoying her mortal life, seeming to have reverted back to her old clueless self. AKA. Si Feng continues to get walked over but this time it's in the name of having fun.
I really loved the characters Teng She and Liu. If I had seen more of them earlier on in the series, I'd paid attention quicker. They were great to watch.
An unexpected big hit of this show is the soundtrack. I am absolute Si Feng in love with the song Love like Coloured Glass. It was ep 28, with a scene on the bridge when I suddenly clicked on the song. If it played before I hadn't noticed but that's what happens when you're not fully invested in a show. You miss things. I immediately stopped the video to look up that song and it's been played ever since.
So again, thank you Cheng Yi. I enjoyed watching you and I got introduced me to a new favourite song.
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Amazing drama
Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending! Great storyline and satisfying ending!Was this review helpful to you?
Impressive, really deserves its success.
I usually never write reviews, but this drama has left me in awe. At first, I was skeptical; not going to lie, but I'm not a huge fan of the female lead. Over the past two years, I've seen/heard so many good reviews, and finally watched it. Wow. I am ABSOLUTELY mind-blown. There are so many plot twists, and the story is very captivating. The acting by Cheng Yi (male lead) will make you absolutely head-over-heels for him. **NOTE** if you don't really like the "misunderstandings" trope... well lets just say this drama could be titled "Love and Misunderstandings"... haha. However, the plot and everything else will just make you... go CRAZY for them!One thing I will say, is the amount of times the male lead spits out blood is a little... haha. I would say this drama is on the same level as Ashes of Love, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, etc. It's really a masterpiece. I have yet to rewatch it yet (because I don't want my heart to break again for Si Feng... ) but I know I will be rewatching it soon. Trust me. You will NOT regret watching it. Don't worry- it's a happy ending!
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I liked the overall story but it was way too long and had way too much misunderstandings. What i remember mostle is XuanJi calling "SiFeng" 20 times a day, like girl he's in front of you relax. I loved SiFeng, who loves like this nowadays ? I remember reading a post about what kind of ML Op wanted and she wrote "a pathetic one" and that's SiFeng. If you want a ML that can do no wrong well you have him here.
But i didn't like the 20 episodes where misunderstandings were the only things we saw, XuanJi's dad is really the kind of dad thhat i wish noone will ever have cuz you have awful and you have him worst than everything. Reminded me of MingLan's dad. You'll think "well he's not abusing her" yes he's doing worst giving some fake fatherly love but degrading you everyday hoping secretly that you'll desapear so he'd finally not have to care about your well-being.
Well whatever, the plot is great. I'll say it again with 15 less episodes it would've been one of the best shows i've ever seen.
EDIT : The opening song is amazing. Really fits the story 😍 🧡
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