You're going to have to get over the baby voice first
==Breakdown==Background plot - 40%
Romance - 40%
Misc comedy - 20%
Background plot - Excellent
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Excellent
Production value - Excellent
As many other reviewers have noted, the character of Orchid has extreme baby voice. I'd tried and failed to watch this series several times, never making it through the first episode, and ultimately deciding a few months ago just to give up because it made me cringe so very, very hard.
If you're like me and this is a big issue, may I recommend watching the show on mute for the first few episodes. I did this with subtitles until I connected with the story, then I gradually increased the volume (very low, moderately low, low, medium, regular) until I didn't notice the voice as much. I'm REALLY glad I did, because this show was fantastic!
Let me stop here and say this is not a criticism of the lead actress. It's a "me problem." I have a hard time when adult men or women affect a child-like voice. It's like nails on the chalkboard for me, and that's 100% entirely on me. I also don't like mayonnaise. That doesn't mean there's anything inherently wrong with mayo, it's just a personal preference.
ANYWAY, a month ago a friend of mine strongly urged me to watch this CDrama (my first Cdrama) because I'd just finished Alchemy of Souls and wanted another fantasy. She said this was THE BEST fantasy TV show of it's kind and I'd regret it if I didn't watch. She was right.
The story was good. Not fantastic, but good. The relationship, which started antagonistic because he's a serious bad guy without emotions, actually ended up pretty darn healthy. In fact, I'd say it was remarkably healthy given who the characters were and their backgrounds. It was lovely to see how much they respected and cared for each other from episode 20 to the end.
However, and this is really why this show is so high on the re-watch scale, the chemistry between the leads was off the freaking charts. Esther and Dylan portrayed this epic love story perfectly, and I was able to suspend disbelief and lose myself in their story. The production values matched perfectly (even when the CGI wasn't perfect, it was still perfect for the show). And I loved the costumes, make up, hair-- it all added to and heightened the deep fantasy.
I will re-watch this show again, probably several times, and now that I've grown accustomed to the baby voice, I suspect I'll enjoy those early scenes that I'd originally muted.
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It's worth sticking with the show, even if you struggle with the first few episodes
The second part of this drama is much better than the first. It's yet another example of how a superficial script can lead to poor performances. Once the actors were actually given some nuance to portray, they did a great job. Kudos to Dylan Wang as Dongfang Qingcang and his supporting cast for their emotionally powerful performances. The scene where he cries for his father is still one of my favourites. It made me realise how rare this kind of emotional outburst from male characters is on television!Esther Yu's character(s) were difficult to watch at first. The voice and one-dimensional character of Orchid and later Xi Yun have thankfully undergone some positive changes. Similarly, Zhang Linghe as Chang Heng felt rather flat for most of the show.
I found the concept of the conflict between the Fairy Realm and the Moon Clan quite interesting, although the Fairy Realm lacked some depth. The main villain of the show ended up being quite disappointing and some of the twists and turns were unnecessary. While I won't be re-watching the whole show, it had some really impressive and memorable scenes that I'll be back for!
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The best Xianxia drama in 2022
Before watching this drama I didn’t know the main casts so I was hesitated to watch the drama. However, after trying to watch the first 2 episodes, I became addicted. The more episodes I watched, the more I like the drama. It’s been a long time that I enjoy such a beautiful and amazing Xianxia drama like this. There’re moments of laughing and also crying. I usually don’t like watching dramas that make me unnecessarily feel emotional but this drama is an exception because the story is very touching to me! The OSTs and soundtracks are wonderful which help make the important scenes more memorial or enjoyable. Although the main casts are young artists, they portray their roles well. I also like the costumes and styling which are not only beautiful but also unique and different from other Xianxia dramas. Until now this is the best and my most favorite drama in 2022.Was this review helpful to you?
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Xianxia that would be beautifully adapted for a theatre show
This is my first toe-dip into xianxia since I left the genre over a decade ago and it has set the bar very high going into the future. So high that after years on this website I’m finally writing a review. I don’t believe in having to defend a culture’s set of norms, ideology, values, gender expectations, and such when reviewing a storytelling production. I may touch on it and analyse some parts but I won’t go around telling societies how to behave because that would be disrespectful and reductive.To start, I’ll discuss the overall value of the production. It can be very jarring when you are unfamiliar with cdrama or xianxia/wuxia from recent years. All of the scenes, with no exception, are done as if on stage. I think this is brilliant that it did not hold back the storyline by showing us the travel from one place to another. Nor did it concern us with logistics. I take it as these are immortal beings, they can go to places as they see fit - it doesn’t matter if they walk, fly, take the train or Uber it. The background for the most part are CG. The CG can be rough in some places, but this is a TV series and not a blockbuster film production. More importantly, it doesn’t take away from the story and for the most part, I think it’s the production’s artistic choice within the confines of their budget. And I can wholeheartedly accept that.
Moving on to the core of the story, it starts off rather typical: the kind and clumsy woman, her perceived hero, jealous competition of the woman, the cold and distant man. If you are not open to go on for a couple more hours, this can lose you because it is too formulaic. And it’s not to say it’s not formulaic, but I say it’s not about the plot as much as how the plot delivers the characters’ development. What I think is important in storytelling of any length, but especially at this length or more, is character progression. And that’s how this story succeeds in unveiling the changes in the characters. This is done through tropes of grumpy/sunshine, body-swapping kiss, misunderstanding, etc. Many times, love is told to be panacea for all ailments. And this is where I would eye roll. And to an extent, a part of me does that in any story that centers on the transformative power of love! However, here it actually recognises the many forms of love and the way it affects different types of pain in life. Romantic or platonic love, love for your home or your tribe, love your mentor or mentee, love for a long lost family member or a stranger - it’s all covered. It’s telling me, if you navigate life with compassion and remember where you heart is, it will serve you the best way possible. I don’t like quoting non-English work because unless you speak the language the translation/interpretation will definitely lose meaning yet the phrase “everything in this world happens so fast except for love”. Love as first sight is incomparable to love that has been nurtured mutually with effort and time. It is not the same concept of love when you first meet and feel sparks. Slow love gives you hope and carries you through tough times because it changes you and your heart. It's more than just sight and it's life-changing.
Finally the actors, they all did amazing. I haven’t seen Esther You in anything before and on a personal level, my sensory issue took some time in adjusting to her voice. Overall, she is adorable and her acting is highly commendable when she body-swapped. I am most impressed with Dylan Wang who had to do many heavy deliveries due to his literally dead tree of emotions slowly regaining life throughout the show. I’ve only seen him in the remake of Meteor Garden and did not think much of his acting (which tells me what I already know - the script wasn’t great). But I’m happy to be proven wrong. He clearly has an affinity with his craft and I will keep an eye on his future work particularly in this genre.
Conclusions, personal note & TL;DR: I haven’t been in love with a fantasy romance drama like this since Goblin. While it’s not perfect, and I don’t believe there is such thing as objectively perfect storytelling, it has given me deep thoughts and pure enjoyment to watch the story developed. This is one of those dramas that despite being predictable will leave a void in your heart for some time. I already have plans to rewatch.
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A good drama but probably not the best
I don't typically watch xianxia dramas but I decided to pick this one up because of its raving reviews. And honestly, it was a good ride but I don't think it was the BEST and I'm not sure if it deserved all its raving reviews. However, there was something about this drama that just kept sucking me in and wouldn't let me go. Even though the drama is a bit too long for my tastes and I had to put it all in 1.5x speed, I enjoyed it enough. The main leads were amazing and I clearly felt how deep their love ran, I mainly watched it for them. The second leads were also cute too, but the antagonists were so annoying. The graphics and cinematography was absolutely stunning. This is probably worth your time but I just wouldn't expect a 10/10 drama.Was this review helpful to you?
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A little stupid but its fun to watch
I truly gotta say this drama is rated higher than it deserves. the logic and storyline is weak and so is the overall story.I really liked the sets, costumes and the music, especially music was so well integrated into the show. The fairy was as usual stupid and the male lead was as usual cold a very familiar story. I wouldnt really say it was ground breaking in any way but i kept waiting for next episode.
The way love was portrayed was truly questionable though i think all the people are dumb in terms of love- their love for each other is too intense that its almost unbelievable. The kissing scenes were a little wierd ngl and super forced without emotions that follow. The politics for a historical drama is too weak- almost taking a back seat. The purpose of actions of political figures was vague and not strong enough to set the stage for war. People put themselves in dumb situations and do dumb things for a motive thats not strong enough. almost all side charecters had an unsatisfying ending. the ending was so forced it made me laugh!
Overall its not as angsty as your average historical cdrama but the situations are just entertaing and kind of immature. Somehow i had fun watching people do stupid things but script could have made so much difference coz this show had everything right. plus fave charecter has to be the black dragon guy like he was ITT!
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***MAJOR SPOILERS***
I was surprised at how young the leads were and would’ve preferred a slightly older cast, but they did very well in their performances, especially* the male lead. He really nails emotional, intense roles. The actor is good at doing facial expressions that make his scenes very heartfelt. He also delivers when it comes to the comedic parts; the body swapping between him and the female lead were the funniest.
Many people dislike the female lead’s high pitched voice, which I understand, but as someone who used to watch a lot of shojo anime, it didn’t bother me as much. I think the real issue is whether viewers want to watch this type of character, which is the usual, innocent female that isn’t really popular with some...so if one expects a more mature, badass female lead like the ones in other martial arts fantasies, this could be a down point. The character of Orchid is meant to be an innocent little plant (literally) who manages, in her own way, to influence events around her. She does get to solve problems- like how she is able to clear up a misunderstanding between the male lead and his brother. She also shows bravery in her immortal examination test when she tries to save other examinees. The actress also did pretty well when she had to act cold during the body swaps- I think the scene where she bit the second male lead was pretty funny!
The chemistry between the main couple was good, even if they were such an odd couple who had IMHO, way too many ups and downs.
The supporting characters were also likable here and experienced character growth. The second male lead, ChangHeng, starts off as flat and boring but he grows into his own and becomes independent. The second female lead, fairy Danyin, is antagonistic at first, but she turns out to be a valuable ally with her own side story that ties well into the plot.
Another good point is that all four characters, not just the main couple but also the second leads, get to play different personalities when they are reincarnated in the mortal realm.
One thing this show does differently from other Xianxias is to take established conventions and turn them around. The character of DongFang QingCang is usually portrayed as a villain but in here, he’s just misunderstood. They needed a different antagonist because of this and while I don't think this substitute was as compelling, he was decent. On the other hand, the character of the Heavenly Lord is always a jerk in these stories but manages to get away with it…it’s the same here, unfortunately. Although one could argue that it is also like that in Greek mythology, where Zeus gets away with too many things when he should have been written as an antagonist.
One downside for me was how, when Orchid finally turned into the Goddess, it wasn’t as convincing. I should’ve cheered at her transformation but instead, I wanted the old Orchid back. It’s normal for characters in this genre to experience different lives but there is always that something that makes them feel the same- like in Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms, where Bai Qian went through three lives and acted differently in each, yet she still felt like herself. Not so here. The Goddess felt like an entirely different character with no connection to her previous life.
The secondary character, ‘Jeli’, also felt out of place. She wasn’t bad, but she got away with too many things (like stealing treasure in the Ghost Kingdom) which I felt she would have been killed for. They tried to make a story arc for her that tied into the whole ‘fairies vs. devils’ theme but it felt forced. I also couldn’t picture her as fairy Danyins sister.
The ending was also rushed…did DongFang get to keep his throne in the Ghost kingdom? Since he didn’t have hellfire anymore, what did he have in its place? In the last scene, Orchid finally remembers him, so did she finally regain a little bit of her former personality? Maybe having one or two more episodes would’ve explained things better.
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Surprise!
I watched this because I have a love for the lead male Dylan Wang from seeing him in Meteor Garden . Seeing he was a part of the cast made me want to check it out. Much to my surprise, it was wonderful. I binge-watched and stayed up until the sun came up in the morning. I don't usually go for this type of story, but this was a good show. I loved all the actors and the work they did. It had a lot of episodes, maybe a few too many, but it manage to keep me watching and wondering. I look forward to seeing Dylan in more shows. He carried this show just as he did in Meteor Garden. He has the most transfixing eyes and knows how to use them when acting. LOVED IT!Great Job
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Love is the strongest weapon
This is the best drama EVER.(in my opinion ofc)I loved it. Dylan and Esther as so cute together!
DFQC our Moon Supreme, I would've NEVER expected to see a smile on his face. They both love eachother and both had love rivals which was adorable. CH, Most poeple dont like the love rivals but this one wasn't evil at all! I never really hated him!
The cast is great together! When iQIYI dropped bts I couldn't stop watching and Im still watching them everyday!
Alot of poeple dont like the main leads of this drama (for what Ive seen) but this was the first drama I watched of both of them and they left a incredible first impression!
I've been watching drama's for months and Ive watched about 25 and this was the best no doubt.
The ost is VERY addicting.
Storyline will make you fall in love with the actors not to mention that everyone is INCREDIBLY good looking.
The ending just made me cry and thats all I'll say here.A waterfall was running down my eyes.
Its a great drama but at the moment I don't see myself rewatching it! Its something I'll never forget so I don't feel the need to rewatch yet but for sure in a few months!
I watched it on dramacool and I hope you enjoy it!
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Excellent Xianxia with Charming Leads
Friends, I am OBSESSED with this show. While it featured many familiar character archetypes (sweet and innocent female lead; cold and obsessive male lead; boy next door secondary lead; bitchy friend jealous of female lead; etc.), the way they were written and portrayed was refreshingly unique. Donfang’s character arc is utterly transformative as he transitions from unfeeling dictator to a meltingly loving romantic partner, and Dylan Wang delivered a performance of a lifetime. Not to be outdone, Esther Yu shined as she went from naïve fairy to composed regality. The range these two actors had, and the chemistry between them, was literal gold. I can't imagine these roles portrayed by any one else.The secondary cast of characters were just as wonderfully complex as the main leads. The secondary male lead was perfect as the foil to the main love story. I loved him despite not wanting him to end up with the female lead. This show also had some of the best morally grey characters. Even when these characters were doing something morally wrong or problematic, I always understood the reasons behind their madness. Additionally, the general production and scope of the show was also done so well. The action sequence were tense, the cinematography gorgeous, and the camera shots interesting. I adored the OST - its sweeping and romantic score is something I could listen to every day.
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Besides the gradually and ever consistently great build up and character development, this drama also has a great soundtrack and ost. I'll keep it forever in my heart.
I might edit this review later. I have so much to say, but I'm way too emotional right now.
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Going on my all-time faves list
I absolutely adored this drama. I started watching after several friends watched and enjoyed. Thankfully it was finished airing because I flew through all 36 episodes in less than a week. It would have been even faster if I didn't have to work. It was a wonderful mix of humor, epic romance, historical fantasy elements and heartbreak. I won't spoil how the ending but if you're worried about it ending tragically, don't worry. If I hadn't known that little tidbit, the last few episodes would have broken me. They still did to an extent, but they were so beautiful too and so well acted by Dylan Wang and Esther Yu. I'm going to re-watch it at a slower pace so I can savor it. This drama has cemented its place on my all-time favorites list.Was this review helpful to you?
