Love between Fairy and Devil

perfect "opposite attracts" shot of serotonin

SECOND WATCH REVIEW (never wrote a review on first watch, it was one of the first c dramas i had watched back then)

This show is very much a cutie-patootie. Dylan Wang really plays Dongfang Qing Cang so well. And his acting is really showcased when he “switches bodies” with Orchid. His mannerisms and demeanor completely change, you really forget it’s an actor just acting.

That said, Esther also played Orchid pretty well. I just think I’ve watched too many shows with her in a row that I actually kinda hate the personality she always seems to play. Not quite dumb but also not that smart, always bubbly and cute with a splash of dramatized innocence. I did appreciate the complexity of Orchid’s character as the show goes on.

Most importantly, their romance WORKS. Dongfang Qing Cang is cynical and broken, Orchid is optimistic and determined. While it was “enemies to lovers”, it also wasn’t. Orchid doesn’t see him as an enemy beyond the logistical reality of his Moon Tribe background. It’s also warming how her gift of life revives his emotion tree from day one. He is domineering and bossy, but clearly trying to resist falling in love. It was too cute to watch. I think in this way that we are actively watching them fall in love with each other for their *core* personalities and quirks, you root for them despite the odds and cliches.

Shang Que was a cute loyal dragon sidekick ready to support Dongfang Qing Cang always and then Orchid and of course Jie Li. His and Jie Li’s romance was cute. I wish it was *explored* a tad more but overall it does work. I like that the fierce dragon is the “dummy in love” while Jie Li is the cunning orphan. It’s basically a gender-bent version of the main couple on a smaller scale.

Rong Hao was pretty annoying. I get that he was basically possessed but I wanted to throw my screen across the room every time he talked about saving Chi Di Nu Zi. I will say the scenes with him and her were pretty poignant and I like that it was more maternal/familiar love than romantic. Their ending was sad but very fitting and satisfying. The only thing (due to translations I feel) I’m not sure I understand is why Rong Hao was so surprised about her “mortal desire” being caring for him. I guess he didn’t realize she literally brought him back to life…pretty quid pro quo resurrecting that happens between them.

Chang Heng was great. It’s been a long time since the secondary love interest is *not* bad. I wish there was more of this. He never turns evil, in fact, he persists him being righteous even as his brother the Heavenly Emperor threatens to kill him over and over.

Fairy Dan Yin was also a solid side character. I always love when the “mean girl” becomes friends with the main lead. Like Chang Heng, I wish they could have their own happy romance (not necessarily together but just with a person for each of them).

IDK if it’s because I’ve watched so many more c-dramas so I “get the set up” for these shows now, but the ending wasn’t as bad as I remembered. That said, I do feel like the second half of the show “loses” control of the plot as compared to before the “battle”.

I know in fantasy death is not always permanent but I hate when the logic is inconsistent. I am ALWAYS happy with a HEA, but I still don’t fully understand *how* he came back to life? They claim he has to die for the evil Tu thing to also die. If he’s back, is the evil spirit also alive??? It’s very similar to Love You Seven Times in that you get a “happy ending” but you still feel a little wary because it just doesn’t 100% add up. If Orchid had died instead, would she also have just come back to life lol?

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So funny and too good!

The first few minutes were confusing and I thought this is going to be a long complicated drama trying to figure out all the character names, but as I got watching it turned out to be seriously good! And incredibly funny - there were loads of moments where I couldn’t stop laughing! I didn’t expect it to be this good!

The leads actors not only did their roles justice but I feel went up and beyond. They were perfect for the roles and made the drama enjoyable and entertaining to watch.

Great unique storyline and execution! It’s one of my top favourite Cdramas.

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true love

such an amazing plot and good casting with perfect acting and visuals. Anf the way tgey expresses how the love works between a devil and angel it was so nice and tgat unexpected mysteries of female lead also a nice turning point for the story that it makes the viewers more curious and interested to watch it even more and again. And damn their way of selecting costumes and their makeups alll looks so perfect for their character. And the graphics and background for suitable situation and the back ground musics are even more so suitable for its situation and with good vocal.

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A Love Story Like No Other

If you love Xiaoxia or Wuxia this is definitely a must watch, I've watched many Wuxia and Xiaoxia but this show stands out completely against Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, Ashes of Love and Love and Redemption.

Story : Dong Fang Qing Cang and Xiao Lan Hua love story is a beautiful journey, it will make you laugh, cry, give you butterflies and warm your heart. Many who watch the show may find Xiao Lan Hua a little immature/childish in the beginning but as the story continues her character grows and so does their love. You must give this show a chance to understand the story and I promise you that you won't regret it. When I finished the show I was blown away by how amazing it was, I cried for a half hour and felt so sad that it was over. This show touch my heart in ways that really made me enjoy the show at the fullest, the show has a unique charm to it like no other. The love between Dong Fang Qing Cang and Xiao Lan Hua is one told in a very poetic way. What also stood out is that all of the side characters also have such a beautiful and painful story being told at the same time, which drew me in even more because it helped me feel for all of the characters and not only the main characters.

Cast: The two actors that act as Dong Fang Qing Cang and Xiao Lan Hua are amazing at their roles!!! I promise you that you will not be disappointed in the actors, you can see every emotion through there eyes, they absorb you into the show with their acting. The other actors as well did a wonderful job in their roles,

Music : Now the ost and music for this show it out of the world, the way they direct the show with the music makes you feel every emotion. The scenes become so much more intense and sad, they have a beautiful variety of background music. They produced the best sound track for this show without a doubt, I was honestly astounded how they managed to fit every song into the show appropriately. The soundtracks add into the story and the emotions of the show, making your heart clench every time a song comes on. Each song is so beautiful and well written.

Overall I can't get enough of this show, I hope those who watch it enjoy it as much as I did. If you watched and loved "Love and Redemption", I would recommend this as a watch 100%. I honestly wish I could erase my memory and rewatch this all over again. TT

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An Easy Binge Despite Its Length

Summary: I really LOVE this incredibly romantic fantasy period love story! Although the series was 36 episodes long, I easily gobbled up this true romance (like it was half that length), which provided a generous helping of hilarious, touching, and edge-of-seat moments with an epic, bittersweet soundtrack in the background. Despite the classic protagonist-in-peril scenes in almost every other episode, there was always an interesting storyline or plot twist or visual until the very end except for some strange story holes (explained below) and the last episode left me disappointed. I still give it a 10 and would definitely watch again. Also, the illustrations in both opening/closing credits are STUNNING (wish I could find where to buy a poster).

Details: Only through a Viki viewer recommendation was I introduced to this amazing drama (watched on Netflix to avoid commercials). I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story creator Jiulu Feixiang also inspired “The Legend of Shen Li,” another drama I liked, and she’s easily becoming one of my favorite story makers. I’ve also seen Dylan Wang and Esther Yu separately in other shows and really enjoy each actor’s work, so it was no surprise that I’d love this show as well. Dylan Wang and Esther Yu did amazing jobs playing contradicting good/evil characters with some cringe-inducing scenes.

You can feel the natural sparks between the leads with such cute/sweet interactions like cooking for each other and coming to the other’s rescue. One of my favorite scenes (among many) is when Dongfang Qingcang put his hand around Orchid’s waist and commands everyone to stop messing with HIS woman! And Orchid's nicknames for Dongfang Qingcang are so adorable.

Some critiques I do have are:
- the fact that they introduced a new concept towards the very end and then dropped it like a bad habit, a power called glazed fire; I would have loved to see how that tied into the storyline and connected the main characters to their real destiny
- the episodes toward the end dragged out and were overly dramatic, leaving little time for a solid ending in the last episode
- the last episode felt rushed and empty, and a bit inconsistent with previous scenes in the beginning and middle of the show; for example…
- the strange, contradicting dialogue between Orchid and Xunfeng in which Orchid doesn’t think Qingcang will return but asks whether Xunfeng believed in miracles
- why it took 500 years for Orchid to have to see Qingcang again when it seemed like he only had to wait a few months for her return; the filmmakers could have given them an actual 500 years of marriage instead and expounded on those scenes, like showing Dongfang Qingcang / Orchid teaching their children the power and legend of glazed fire (which I’d also like to learn about :D)
- when they were reunited, Orchid’s reaction seemed out of character; I was hoping Qingcang would put the two-finger smile on her but the scene was so anti-climactic

I did check out the epilogue which was also disappointing, unless you like montages of past scenes in a show. I was hoping for some new material.

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Golden Standard for Chinese Drama

This show is the Golden Standard for Chinese Drama. There is a reason other shows are so often compared to this one. The main cast's acting is so on point that one actually forgets there are actors on the screen rather than the characters themselves. The emotion, the micro-expressions, the sorrow, and the jubilation... The audience feels it all right along with them. The story is so expertly interwoven with each character's personal journey that it can be difficult to tell where one ends and another begins.

I cannot speak for anyone else, but characters are what capture me in a story. Give me a good character--flawed but captivating--and I will become emotionally involved every single time. Dongfang Qingcang was that character for me. His story was breathtaking in its depth and sincerity. Wang Hedi (Dylan Wang) played him expertly. I hope he takes on another such role in the future.

This is the very Chinese Drama I have ever watched all the way through. I heard about it through fan videos, watched it, and literally signed up for Viki because of this show. It got me hooked on historical C Dramas. On a personal note, I discovered this show a few months after the passing of a loved one so some of the themes touched on in this particular drama hit very close to home.

"Love Between Fairy and Devil" will always be one of my favorites. In fact, I am rewatching the show on Viki now! MUCH better subtitles.
If you haven't watched this show, put it on your list. You won't regret it.

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It Was Nice But Could Have Been Better

It took me quite some time to finish the drama. The FL's character and her baby voice were a huge turn off me. But later, as I watched further, I realized that Esther Yu was the perfect actress to play this role. She was required to behave like this according to the story. Both Dylan and Esther did their role nicely, and they had nice chemistry. But the story was not anything special, at least for me. I really did not like the special effects much. The color felt quite a bit off to me. The cinematography was nice. I liked the FL's character more towards the end. The 2ML was okay. Moreover, the ending seemed vague and could have been better. I did not like the rushed ending at all. Overall, this drama is a very good one-time watch.

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My Fave Chinese Drama Ever!

This drama is perfect to me on all levels. I wasn’t that into Chinese dramas at first, especially the fantasy genre, but this one single-handedly converted me! I love the chemistry between the leads and how their relationship gradually progressed from friendship into a romance against all odds. The kissing scenes were amazing - out of all the dramas I’ve watched recently, this has the best kissing scenes. I was thoroughly convinced of how deeply they care for each other, making it impossible not to root for them until the end. I also love the fantasy worlds created here, and it makes you want to live in them. The music was also incredible and is on repeat in my playlists.

It also made me a Dylan Wang fan (although I hated his first drama, Meteor Garden), and I secretly wish he’d take on more similar roles. I could tell his acting improved so much in this drama. I didn’t like Esther Yu in the beginning episodes, but that had more to do with the character rather than her acting. As the story progressed, she really grew on me, and I started to find her character so adorable and emotionally brave. It’s funny how I missed this version of her character when she later got reborn into that 'boring' goddess! Ugh.

The only thing I didn’t like was the ending, but that’s just me wanting more of this couple, hoping to see their wedding and future together. After all the tribulations they went through to be together, they at least deserve it! I also think the Heavenly King should have been punished, but I guess that’s left open to interpretation.

Overall, an amazing drama that I would re-watch numerous times.

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One of my beloved xianxia dramas

This is one of the dramas which I can recommend to others. I had quite high expectations for this drama and it delivered. Sometimes the CGI was a bit funny, but more often it was done so well. Also, I have enjoyed the costumes, soundtrack, story line, everything.

Spoiler
I appreciate the acting when both FL and ML characters switch! Many times you don't see it in the acting, but both of them played it so well! I was laughing so much :)
I don't enjoy the trope of one of the character dying even though we know that this character will come back at some point, but that' my only complain.

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Good but did not tug at the heartstrings

This was a good fantasy series, typical tropes, but a decent watch. The main issue I have w/ this is that this type of love story has to really tug at your heartstrings and leave you w/ lingering feelings long after watching it. I did not get that feeling like I did w/ other love stories (i.e. Ashes of Love, Rise of the Phoenixes, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, Goodbye My Princess).

Pros:
- ML lead (Dylan Wang) this was the first time seeing him in a series, he absolutely nailed this role. He was convincing in all the various stages of his character development: cold & powerful, funny & bubbly for the body swaps, tender & emotional. His facial expressions made you feel every emotion he felt.
- 2nd ML (Cheng Heng role) - first time seeing this actor. I liked him - usually I tend to really root against the 2nd ML, but his character was likeable.
- Support characters - usually the support characters are rather annoying, but most were likeable except for Jie Li, she was super annoying. I had zero sympathy for her plight. I special shoutout to Danyin. She character seem to start off as one of those psychotic love-obsessed women that would do anything to steal a love she feels entitled to, but Danyin was an upstanding character rational logic and ethics. She was my favorite support character. I loved the relationship w/ her and the Chang Heng in the mortal realm - her undying/selfless devotion to Chang Heng was sweet and funny.
- production quality was impressive

Cons:
- FL was just ok. I think she was overshadowed by the ML's screen presence. She did not seem to match up to his acting/screen presence. Her cuteness was a bit over the top that it was annoying at times, and came across like a complete fool. And when she did the body swap, she could not pull off the cold/domineering effect. She just looked silly.
- the chemistry between the main couple was just ok, not terrible, but not great either. The chemistry for this type of love story is crucial.
- some of the costumes looks really silly. The headgear of the gods looked very plastic. And the gold flower wrap around the FM character as the Goddess of Xishan looks so cheap.
- the ending was confusing. They never explained why/how Dongfang Qing Cang came back to life suddenly.

Overall it was good. Not one of my favorite dramas but still good. I may rewatch it if I'm bored.

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