Fantasy Romance with all the pretty and all the emotions but one big flaw
I was fully prepared to drop this after one episode, the overly literal title, the fact that it was Xianxia, which almost never clicks with me. I expected a messy storyline, cringey costumes and bad cgi. Well, there is some bad cgi and there are definitely cringey costumes, but a lot of the time this drama is really, really pretty to the point that you sometimes feel like you look at a painting. The costume and the scenery department went all in on this one and the results are very hit or miss and always over the top, but there is a real cohesive aesthetic, that I actually liked.The star of this show for me is the cast. I feel like they really found the perfect person or at least a very good choice for each and every main and supportive role. Both, Esther Yu and Dylan Wang handle the numerous personality shifts of their characters really well, especially Dylan Wang impressed me. See, I think male leads are often overrated, people see a pretty boy and are like “He is such a good actor! What? Hey, his character is meant to have no emotions!” Dylan Wang not only has emotions, the stuff he is able to say with a straight face is downright impressive, and he really carries a show that is so extra sometimes that it could have gone terribly wrong. And if you start this drama and you are annoyed by another squeaky, dumb female lead, stay strong. If a female lead ever had a right to be naïve and squeaky, it is that one, and she has a good amount of growth to a point, where she does some pretty badass things.
So how is the writing? This is maybe the most surprising part of this drama. The story actually had very good pacing until the last 6 or 7 episodes. There was always something relevant and engaging happening, there was character development, even the side characters where surprisingly fleshed out, and it is one of the rare dramas that actually succeeds in building up a relationship from “I want to kill you” to greatest love of all time, with all the various stages of companionship to a love that is hard to accept but too strong to ignore. When done right this is a beautiful process that a lot of dramas still mess up, but this one does it right and I think it is worth a watch for that alone.
So why only 8 points will you ask. So, while I just praised the writing I also have to say, that there definitely are messy parts, where things don’t add up, established rules are forgotten or not mentioned again, new rules are made up out of nowhere and just a lot of general “Oh, there is this person/artefact/exception that I just remembered that can help us” to the point of: “Stuff just happens! Tadaaaa!” And while I still would have given the drama a 9, it is that last part that made it into an 8.
I already mentioned the pacing problem towards the end (which might not be a writing but an editing problem), some scenes where drawn out to the point where I had to skip ahead a few minutes, other things that were worth exploring stayed underdeveloped. There was definitely one “I will sacrifice myself for you/the world”-loop too many and I wish the story would have ended a few episodes earlier. But the gravest sin of this drama is the fact that after putting us through an amazing emotional wringer for 36 episodes, it gives us the most half-assed, rushed and anticlimactic ending of all time (see: “Stuff happens! Tadaaa!”). I don’t know what happened. Was the editing team rushed? Did they have to stop filming early? Ran out of ideas? Was the drama supposed to have another ending and they just had to scramble something together? I don’t know. All I know is that it feels awful. You know that feeling when you ride out the last waves of a drama you really enjoyed? Yeah, not here. All the love and emotion I had for a flawed but still lovely drama just hung there, unresolved.
I still think it is worth watching, especially if you like the aesthetic of the promo pics, because at the very least your eyes will get a feast. It’s a fun and engaging Fantasy Romance. Just brace yourself a little for the end.
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a Common Feiry Tile Become Most Complicated Story
for the First time i tried twice to finish a Drama. Normally i drop dramas for Being Boring but i Finished this only For Dylan Wang. without him all of the Character's was Boring. and first 10 episode was Super Cool. I've watched those episodes few times at once but from episode 11 most of the episodes ware boring. story telling is too slow. from episode 21 I watched 1.5x Speed! Story is like a Fiery Tile.a Devil fall for a Fiery and fiery Changed him. thay had a lot of Bumps. thay got over all of them together. and then thay lived happily ever after.
that's it. simple but there writing made it complicated. I was Impressed by Dylan Wang's Acting and that's why i tried twice to finish it. in other Words I've finished it only for him and his Performance.
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Cheerful fairy and heartless devil
This drama have a very beautiful and touching story. I like both female lead and male lead characters here. Love conquers everything. Xiao Lanhua a plain, cheerful and good girl must bound with the heartless Dongfang Qingcang. With her love for him, she succeed make the heartless devil became a forgiving and loving devil. There's many many people say that Esther voice it's annoying and childish but I mean it's the way she portrayed Xiao Lanhua as cute, plain and cheerful girl. All the costume and CGI are both beautiful. Esther Yu and Dylan Wang both have a very good acting and it's proof when they switching personality and also they have very good chemistry. The other characters it's very good too it's not just like they're in this drama just for the side characters like another drama does.Was this review helpful to you?
Dylan Wang Stole The Show
Dylan wang stole the show with his exceptional acting skills. He's hilarious, serious, emotional, villain...he is truly a versatile actor. I felt all the feels during this drama because of him.The only reason I can't give it a 10 is because I really wish they would have chosen a less annoying fl. I don't know what he saw in her. Also, I wish there had been more chemistry/romance/kissing to enhance the emotions that should come along with watching a romance drama.
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Entrancing visuals for the eyes and heart
The classic Cold ML x Naive FL trope, the soul switch was done well since it was easy to see who was in which body based off their quirky, cringy micro-expressions. It's adorable how obsessively protective Dongfang is of Orchid.The biggest flaw is Orchid being horrifically embarrassing in the beginning. Her squeaky, baby voice along with her attempts of acting cute had me in tears. It was THAT bad. I understand it's due to her naive and pure persona, but it was agonizing to watch.
Overall, a feast for the eyes and heart. Intense face cards in magnetic landscapes with magical OSTs and beautiful VFX. The humor and angst is fierce, the moments of laughter are hearty and tears are gut-wrenching. Simply a magical and heartwarming fairytale.
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Lovely story
Very first who is crazy about love stories ,as my concern it will be a choice . Except starting and ending story I loved the whole drama . In the starting their sole got exchanged and that part felt like boring .about ending I expect more with the ending story . All three couples need a perfect ending . One pairing from all of three had on sided love and it remain one sided till the end. So I think they all need a best ending. About acting Dylan Wang is the best .Other were also very good . Even the supporting characters the one who played Dylan Wang's brother role.
Nice drama.
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It’s an Amazing story
I loved it so much, I’ve watched it twice already and really hope they make a season 2 because even though it was great, the ending seemed so short for me like kinda like it was rushed, please we need season 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)!!!!!))))))!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Was this review helpful to you?
The most amazing drama I’ve watched so far.
I LOVE this drama. I am a fan of Dylan and Esther, and when i saw the trailer for this drama, i freaaked out!! I got vip on IQIYI just to watch this drama. The plot is very good, its fast paced and oh my gosh, there are some sweet parts that my you smile all the way. The ML is powerful, and FL has hidden powers. There are also body swapping scenes, it was SO cool. This romance drama isn’t cringy at all, their acting is rrally good and when they cry, we also cry. Esther and Dylan really deserve the recognition for this drama, its just so amazing i dont know how to explain everything. The CGI, costume, OSTs, plot, cast, and everything is really good. Please don’t drop this drama after watching a few episodes, trust me, i was really hooked to this drama. I know people find Esther’s voice annoying because is babyish and girly, but her voice isn’t fake or forced, its her natural voice. In this drama, the character she portrays is supposed to be cute and sweet so she fits this character perfectly. Esther had to portray 3 different characters with 3 different personalities and she NAILED IT!! Please watch this drama, not only is it a sweet romance, it mas lots of action and angst too :)Was this review helpful to you?
Something sweet
Cute fluffy sweet and with good cgi.Beautiful cast which is a bonus.
Loved the story till they started the fathers redemption arc...that part lost me. Didn't like it and kinda ruined my mood for ongoing episode. I expect no villain redemption arc for him cause it was more exciting that way.
Anyway still tuned in for remaining episodes despite alot of skipping scenes which i felt were just fillers.
Still one of my favourite wuxia fantasy dramas this year. This is heavy shade to immortal samsara
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Quite boring
Honestly, when i started to watch this drama i had a great expectation, the scenery is pretty and the acting is quite good. But as long as i watched more episodes it just felt like i was watching the same one. Then when they got into the human world it started to feel a lil more excting, but then the flower semeed to be another person, her personality changed a lot (at least, that's how it seemed to me). I got frustrared at some point that i coudnt keep going on, really dissapointing. I won't say every thing is unworthy, as i said before, when they entered the mortal world it was cool, but still not enough to save it.Was this review helpful to you?
Epic way to break the law of heaven and hell
Story is really awesome. Although I liked novel much more. But in drama it's more sweet. Drama will have just 36 episodes and it's not enough to justice the novel. They really should make season 2 or it will be waste of this beautiful storyCasting is great. Dylan Wang is indeed a demon lord. Talking about Dylan his acting is far better from miss the dragon. Esther Yu nailed the job as fairy. Supported roles are also okay
Visually it's stunning. I never expected a web drama can have this kind of graphical work.
Everything is great but WE ALREADY NEED SEASON 2. DON'T LET THE STORY COMPLETED. WE NEED COMPLETED STORY WITH SATISFYING ENDING!!!
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underwhelming
i was originally really excited to watch this because of the numerous good reviews it has. i really love watching fantasy, but this is nah. esther yu... what to do i say. her acting is always fluctuating, sometimes good, and sometimes horrible, her voice is like a baby's, which i am not a fan of. and dylan wang. even though he has many fans, i really can see why. i feel like his acting here is so wooden, and he is always sucking his cheeks in to make his face seem skinnier? idk. i also dont get how they suddenly fell in love. like no way they would fall in love like this. if the ml is super old, super powerful guy, then why would he fall for a girl acting like a child ? his actions are so different from what he is supposed to be like. and why did they start kissing at some random ep when they dropped into the water to avoid being seen? i know this is fiction, but this is so absurd and wierd .Was this review helpful to you?
