Love Never Fails

A surprise in each episode: A love in four worlds. It's even better than you think.

(You just have to watch it to really understand.)
(I'm in episode 12,May 3, 2025 ) This drama was reshot, but it is almost impossible to understand where they did it, as all the scenes look so natural and in place. The chosen actress is talented, and the chemistry of the main pair is very good. A love that crosses 4 worlds. A passionate god who does not give up on his camellia and makes all the sacrifices for her. A carefree camellia, as soon as she is born she already finds herself around the god of flowers, Jinxiu. She enters his life without asking permission and soon wins the heart of Jinxiu, who is chosen to be the emperor of heaven, but due to this, he cannot relate to a mere Camellia. There is the brother, Kunlum, who was born under the same star (which indicates who will be the next emperor). The emperor's wife, we don't know whose mother she is (of the two brothers ? From Jinxiu ? From Kunlum ?), from neither of them ? This hovers for 12 episodes, (I don't know the next ones, as it hasn't been broadcast yet), but I think the empress privileges one of her children. I don't know if it's the emperor father who privileges Jinxiu, and the empress privileges Kunlum. There is a flower (something powerful, I don't understand what it is, it looks like a black peony), inside Jinxiu's body, which has a lot of power, and the emperor is containing this force within Jinxiu. (It's something I don't understand, we need to know what the next episodes will show us). But this drama has humor, adventure, many sweet scenes of lovers, sacrifices, dilemmas, secrets, intrigues. And there are other characters in this story, complex and interesting (Kunlum,Lui Yao, Baicha, Liu Jiu), each with their own complex story. No scene is wasted, because the characters, none of them are boring. (We want to know how the story ends: Will Jinxiu be able to overcome fate, which says that the Camellia has no future, and make her reborn as an immortal and marry her? Or the Camellia, will forever be a mortal and can never stay with Jinxiu? (Or will Jinxiu, as in the book, become a mortal?). I haven't finished the book yet, so I don't know how it ends in the book (but there are many modifications in the drama already noticed in relation to the book, which were much better in the drama). There is also another powerful, magical element, the ice dew, which interferes with some events in this story. Many questions in this fascinating story! Come watch with us.
(I'm in episode 13,May 4, 2025 )
Background for something that is going to happen:
Although episode 13 was not as interesting as the previous 12, but it is the previous facts that worked towards what will happen on the "Cangyun" mountain. This fact is that depicted in the 2021 trailer, Jinxiu dressed in red with a raised sword, and Hong Ning is on the ground crying and screaming at Jinxiu and a lot of fire around. All of this is the backdrop for this climactic moment that will happen.
Episode 14: The Sword Test.
I just watched it now, and I think this episode is great. Better than episode 13, although episode 13 also has key points in this relationship. And it's a totally necessary episode, (they're living their mortal lives). And I liked all the interactions. Jinxiu x Hongning. HongNing x Kunlun, Kunlun x Luiyao. Even the apprentice boy, HongNing's friend, he also helps the episode to be full of humor. And Jinxiu watching everything, (sneaking and solving the problems), running the place, he's the boss of Cangyun Mountain. (The noodle moment was funny).
Episode 15: She loves me. She loves me not.
I loved seeing Jinxiu thinking that Hong Ning was in love with him, and he should make her stop feeling that way. (and the conversation with the chrysanthemum about it was also hilarious). I rewatched it a few times. I liked the scenes. Liu Xue Yi is always great at the humorous scenes (I was reminded of the drama "Qing Luo"). "She said I was handsome"😁😁🌸🌻
And the story of Kun Lum and Luyao also always captivates me. He is another hilarious, and interesting one. The apprentice, Hong Ning's friend is another perfect addition to the episode. Besides Lujiu.
The drama is very good and wonderful. And it deserves 10, because it's a true love story. What I like is that their love is so convincing. Jinxiu and his camellia. And this feeling of a kingdom of flowers has no end, I love it. And even Jinxiu and Kunlum's brotherly love is very beautiful to see. It convinced me and won me over.
PS: What I can't miss is this drama. I have to savor each scene until I reach the beautiful conclusion of the story.

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Great Acting, Lovely Story, Super Cute & Funny

The xianxia genre is hugely popular among younger viewers, so I’m surprised this series isn’t rated higher on MDL. On other Chinese platforms, the ratings are even worse. Personally, I loved "Love Never Fails"—the story is intriguing, the acting is excellent, and the writing is coherent. Though it has similar vibes, for me, this story is so much better than "Ancient Love Poetry" and rivals "Love and Destiny" and "Eternal Love". The only reason I can think of for the low ratings? The leads, though seasoned actors, aren’t idol stars that younger fans usually go for.

The Story
This is a love story between a god and a young camellia (a red tea plant) demon girl. They meet across lifetimes and realms, falling in love again and again—only for each reunion to end in heartbreak, loss, and death. Their love leaves scars, yet every time they reincarnate, they’re drawn back to each other.

Multiple antagonists try to tear Jin Xiu and Hong Ning apart, but their love endures. With each lifetime, more of the grander plot is revealed. There’s a conspiracy lurking beneath the surface, and the show slowly unravels it. For example, Jin Xiu is said to be the Heavenly Emperor’s son… but also not. Even the empress doesn’t know his true origins; Hong Ning is called a powerful demon king, yet she’s just a love-struck girl trying to protect the one she loves. By Episode 35, we still don’t have all the answers—and that’s part of the fun.

In her first life when she first falls in love with Jin Xiu, Hong Ning was heartbroken and jumps into the Cleansing Well, losing her memories and cultivation to be reborn as an ordinary human in her second life. Meanwhile, Jin Xiu is banished to the mortal realm as punishment for defying the Heavenly Emperor. He keeps his memories and becomes Hong Ning’s protector while running a cultivators’ academy. Fate brings them together—she becomes his disciple, they fall in love again, and get married. But their happiness is short-lived.

In their third life, Jin Xiu loses his memory and becomes a general, while Hong Ning (now a demon catcher) remembers everything, harboring a love/hate feeling for Jin Xiu for what he had done in their previous life, which was utterly a misunderstanding manipulated by the villain. Despite the initial hatred from Hong Ning, they fall in love again, and join hand to take down the devil demon and save the town.

After completing their trials successfully, they return to heaven. Hong Ning becomes the Flower God and Jin Xiu is preparing for the future Heavenly Emperor role. But power isn’t what they wanted. All they ever wished for was to love each other freely. Unfortunately there are more mysteries to unravel and pain to endure.

Characters & Acting
Jin Xiu (Liu Xue Yi) – A powerful god, heir to the Heavenly Throne, and the feared Punishment God. But his true form? A golden peony. As a child, he saved a dying camellia plant (Hong Ning’s soul) and sent it to nurture and grow in the demon realm.

Jin Xiu is disciplined, dutiful, and stoic—until Hong Ning crashes into his life. Liu Xue Yi’s acting is phenomenal. He nails the intimidating god everyone fears, then flips to being awkward, silly, and hopelessly in love. His expressions—whether embarrassed, smitten, or heartbroken—are perfect. You can’t help but feel for him.

Hong Ning (Hu Yi Xuan) – A camellia demon saved by Jin Xiu. To repay him, she cultivates, rises to the heavenly realm and boldly declares her love. Even after losing her memory and power during her first trial, she finds him, and continues finding him—whether as a disciple, a demon catcher, or a goddess.

Hu Yi Xuan shines in this role. She transforms from a naive, bubbly demon to a grounded disciple, then a sharp demon catcher, and finally a composed goddess. Each version feels distinct, and she plays them all flawlessly.

Many viewers complain about Hong Ning's naive character in the beginning and give up on the drama before seeing her remarkable growth. This is a shame because Hu Yi Xuan delivers an impressive transformation, taking Hong Ning from a lovestruck girl to a powerful goddess. The character development is actually one of the drama's strongest points - if only more viewers had patience to see it through.

Kun Lun Jun (Ao Rui Peng) – The adorable, mischievous little brother everyone wishes they had. Jin Xiu dotes on him, even when banishing him to count flower petals as punishment. Throughout his tribulations in the human realm, he's still as adorable and mischievous, and becomes Jin Xiu disciple in one lifetime, and cousin in another.

Ao Rui Peng is hilarious—his character is a walking disaster, but so lovable. He brings chaos and laughter every time he’s on screen, yet his growth into maturity feels natural.

Final Thoughts
Despite some confusing moments (like the dream arc in Episodes 8-9) and occasional pacing issues near the ending, Love Never Fails remains thoroughly engaging and delightfully humorous. The drama masterfully balances tension and comedy—one scene shows Jin Xiu intimidating his disciples with his stern presence, while the very next reveals those same disciples clowning around behind his back.

I firmly believe Love Never Fails deserves to stand alongside xianxia classics like "Love Between Fairy and Devil". In fact, I found it superior to "Ancient Love Poetry" in nearly every aspect—its storytelling feels more cohesive, the acting more nuanced, and the character development significantly deeper.

What makes this drama even more impressive is its behind-the-scenes story, which was brought to my attention by one of the viewers (see comments below): Filmed three years ago, it faced major setbacks when the original female lead (Yuan Bing Yan) was replaced due to legal issues. Hu Yi Xuan stepped in and reshot all the previous scenes—often working solo with green screens, juggling multiple character versions day and night. The fact that this seamless transition isn’t noticeable across 40 entire episodes speaks volumes about her professionalism and the production team’s skill. Knowing this only deepens my appreciation for Hu Yi Xuan’s phenomenal performance and the drama’s against-all-odds quality.

At its heart, this is a drama that blends swoon-worthy romance and laugh-out-loud comedy with the bloodshed and tragedy of classic xianxia. If you’re a fan of the genre’s emotional depth, intricate mysteries, and powerhouse performances, ignore the underwhelming ratings. This hidden gem isn’t just entertaining—it’s a testament to artistic resilience.

Strongly recommended!

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Great cast & characters but weak plot

The drama is about the love story between the Floral Deity (male lead) and the camellia pixie (female lead). Although slow paced, the drama started off really well and I quickly fell in love with the characters and romance. But my excitement died down too quickly and the drama ended up disappointing me with its weak plot.

It’s worth mentioning that the first thing that pleasantly surprised me was the amazing AI face-swap. I literally couldn’t tell the new actress had re-shot all her scenes on a green screen. To me, she did an amazing job, knowing how tough it is to replace the previous actress. Having said that, I feel like the whole allure of this drama was that it was meant to be the reunion of Liu Xue Yi and Yuan Bing Yan. The initial vibe I got was totally that this is an alternative timeline of Love and Redemption where the second male lead actually gets the girl. As I mentioned, Hu Yi Xuan was amazing but at the same time, I always felt off, maybe because I knew she wasn’t there for all the scenes, or maybe because I watched the original trailer and I loved YBY’s scenes so much more. But when you think about it, the shooting, the clothes, hair, makeup were all designed for YBY so of course HYX was at a huge disadvantage. Anyway that’s just my observation, I don't want to get into any sort of fan wars about it.

PLOT BREAKDOWN:

Ep 1-11 / Immortal realm: 1st life
Very slow paced but the blossoming romance between the leads was cute.

Ep 12-22 / Mortal realm: 2nd life
Cultivation academy setting. Male lead is the master and the female lead is his disciple, pretending to be a man. Except for the female lead and second male lead, everyone else remembers the 1st life.

Ep 23-29 / Mortal realm: 3rd life
Palace setting + demon hunting. Male lead is a general and the female lead is a demon hunter. Only the female lead and second female lead remember the previous lives.

Ep 30-40 / Immortal realm
At this point I had lost interest in the drama and skipped lots just to finish it.

POSITIVE:
- Bromance. Liu Xue Yi and Ao Rui Peng’s characters and their relationship was the highlights for me. LXY’s character started off as grumpy and unapproachable but gradually softened up. He was strict and duty bound but still stood up for what he believed in and wanted. ARP’s character started off as an air-head and total clown (in a good way) but became mature and endearing at the end. I love that despite their opposite personalities, they always supported and loved each other.
- Sweet romance (for the most part). The main couple was the emotional type while the second couple leaned on the comedy.
- Masculine and authority male lead. Let’s face it, most of us watched the drama for him. I truly loved him in this role.
- Nice CGI and visual settings. Even though the style is very “old school" (since it was filmed in 2021), visually it still looked good and I can tell a lot of effort was put into the production.
- Second couple surprised me with their fun banter and good relationship development throughout the drama. The second female lead appeared to want the male lead at first but really, she just wanted to be an Empress. She definitely wasn’t the most likable character but knowing the second male lead liked her, I wanted them to work out for his sake.

NEGATIVE:
- Weak plot. My main issue with this drama is the boring plot. 40 episodes and almost NOTHING happens. Yes, the characters do things but it has very little impact on the story. The drama focuses on the love story between the leads which consists of constant back-and-forth. After ep 11 there was almost zero development of their romance. In fact I’m pretty sure if you skip to ep 30, you won’t miss a thing. Their 2 mortal lives (ep 12-29) felt like fillers, for the most part. A few significant things would happen to drive the plot forward but the rest was just blah blah blah. These lives could have literally been condensed to 3-4 episodes and would have had the same effect. Things like the male lead’s origin or female lead’’s cultivation were brushed over which is a shame as I think these would have at least added SOMETHING. The plot just felt bare-bones.
- Obsessively “in love” villain that was whiny the whole time. He was so pathetic and one dimensional that I HAD to skip his scenes.

OVERALL:
The romance started off great but after ep 11, had almost zero development. The plot was a bunch of nothingness, most of the time things were happening but nothing significant really happened. The leads had good chemistry but something felt off, maybe it was the bad plot or the fact that I knew the female lead was face-swapped/re-shot. In conclusion, I’d say this drama is boring, filled with the typical xianxia tropes and not really worth the watch.

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Commending the Teams hard work 4 years ago and 4 years later

The way I see it I think there’s a lot to consider when deciding when rating this drama. It was supposed to be a S+ drama (I think they were trying to capitalize on the popularity of Love and Redemption). It was put on a 4 year hiatus. Nobody really knew what was the fate of this drama that so many people put so much effort and money into. 4 years later the taste of the audience have severely changed. But 4 years later they decidedto re-edit the drama and a new female lead actress and other actors came together to refilm all the required scenes relying on their imagination of the setting. I’m actually very impress with their dedication, their teamwork, and spirit. Knowing that this once S+ drama might flopped after re-editing, changing lead actress, and the 4 year hiatus they still were able to push this drama forward to be broadcasted. Against all the odds that it will flop, I really want to commend all the actresses and actors, directors, crew, designers, and everyone who took part. I finished the drama it might not be some people cup of tea but I think overall this drama was much more coherent and pieced together than I had imagined and expected. I’ve seen long dramas that were wrecked by horrible and sloppy editing (an ex on the top of my head is till the end of the moon). And having watch badly edited dramas and this one I think they’ve done the best they can to shrink what was supposed to be a 70 ? episodes drama to 40 episodes. It was coherent and it wasn’t too choppy. Yes towards the end there was a lack of transitions or explanation how everyone knew jinsiu’s real identity but I’ll take it that it’s implied people in the end have realized the truth after the war has settled down. And I know there are still many supporters of the original actress. Yes maybe it would have been great with her performance but maybe not because we’ll never know because she got herself in a tax scandal (which I don’t what exactly happened. Like for some actors/actress the outcome was so bad it ended their careers but recently song zu er came out of it and returned to showbiz). In any case, maybe the original fl was a victim of bad management, but I don’t know for sure. What was real was that her scandal jeopardized the efforts of the entire drama crew and everyone’s effort and money would have went under the water. I’m kind of glad hu yixuan was brave enough to pick up this drama which was potentially a flop. And I think it was a right choice to pick her because her warm smile, way she expresses her character (a camellia pixie), and her almond shaped face really fits the role. This is all my opinion though… With all the hurdles considered, I gave this drama a 9+ because I really felt the warmth of everyone’s contribution and commitment to a good story. Not a masterpiece but in this case the little flaws made it perfect for me. Everyone worked hard.

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Despite it's (weirdly) low MDL rating and shaky storytelling, it is still worth watching

I wanted to watch Love Never Fails because it will give me a deep, meaningful insight into xianxia as a genre.

Yeah, who am I kidding. 😆 I am here for the pretty, baby! This aunty wants something nice to look at after a day of zoom meetings, so sue me!

And to study anatomy and marine science, obviously - specifically Liu Xueyi's eyelashes and er, bath scenes lol. (As xiaohongshu constantly reminds me of them so how can I not study them for research purposes amirite?)

Anyway in all seriousness I just want a happy drama after seeing Liu Xueyi's characters end miserable lives alone (or dead) in several dramas so Love Never Fails is a chance to see him happy.

Ok, fine, so he ended up happy with his beloved Hong Ning only after A LOT OF BLOOD, TEARS AND LIGHNTNING STRIKES but it was worth it. (Esp with the use of the fast forward button).

There were just some parts that are wonderful, just wonderful - particularly the sweet episodes of 1-6.

And I really enjoyed their lives when they were demon hunter's because Hong Ning was a mature bad ass and Jinxiu for once was sure of himself and had a happy upbringing.

Still, a lot of things were exasperating - like the badly drawn plot involving the emperor, the tired, hierarchical, species based way of segregating the xianxia world and our leads' passiveness in dealing with their enemies. (Like just take the lightning strikes, Jinxiu! That's your strategy lmao).

Still, I enjoyed the drama despite its silliness and frankly ???? plots.

It's the kind of drama where 🧠 -> 🚪

Just enjoy the pretty. You won't regret that bit hehehe

I did write a very long review with pros and cons and everything tho, so you can have a look here: https://dramatea88.wordpress.com/2025/05/23/love-never-fails-chinese-drama-review/

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Liu Xue Yi, the rising star of Cdrama

I am not that sure of why this drama has received such a low rating, however, I do have my guess.
The drama started really nice, we have a story about fantasy and the imaginary of the Flower realm is absolutely beautiful. I like that the story doesn’t focus on unnecessary drama and also they didn’t add unnecessary scenes that makes you skip the parts. I also believe is my first drama where I didn’t skip the human life trial episodes because I actually really enjoyed them and they were pretty exciting.
I like Liu Xue Yi’s acting the most, I think he is one of the few chinese ML who delivers in every drama he is part of, his facial expressions, emotions and of course looks in costume dramas are out of this world. I am such a big fan of him.
However, I cannot say the same of the FL. I do like her acting and I think she did pretty well, but the way they wrote her character isn’t the best. At times she seems selfish and self centered, also a bit dummy, for example she still meets Yang Lin (the white camelia) even if she knows how despicable he is and she doesn’t do absolutely anything to confront him, I found this super annoying.
But other than that I laughed a lot because of Ao Rui Peng and Jing Yan Jun who were the funniest.

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Had the potential to be amazing.

Plot development: 5 out of 10
Characters development: 7 out of 10
Romance chemistry: 9 out of 10
Kissing meter: 9 out of 10
Secondary couples: Yes

REVIEW:
I was very hopeful that this drama was going to be the drama I would love after a long time of Asian drama slump.

The beginning was promising. The characters were intriguing enough, and the plot was flowing just right. She was playful and innocent. Her innocence would lead her to be very straightforward towards the main lead, at times he would shy away, and it would make my stomach get butterflies. The actors did amazing; the chemistry was there. Some scenes between them were so romantic and cute. His undying love for her was just beautiful. Even if some characters were against their love and try to separate them, their love prevailed and flourish each time. Then boom the plot moved on and the many reincarnations kept happening the development of the story got boring. I would of love this drama if each reincarnation would have been different, but it was like copy and paste. They lost me by reincarnation three.
Another thing I didn't like was that even though 95% of the time I prefer secondary couples when I love the leads I could care less of the secondary couple and this drama was very focus on the secondary couple. At times sharing the equal time of screen time as the leads. I do wish to see these two work together in the future as I did love the chemistry between them.

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Boring and Incoherent

The drama starts with potential but very quickly unravels into a confusing, repetitive and emotionally flat story. The plot is filled with inconsistencies and a lack of depth. The ending feels rushed and disappointing.

The main romance lacks chemistry. The male and female leads feel more like siblings than lovers. The male lead actor is more suited for stoic, evil, tragic or gray roles than romantic ones. He was perfect in "A Moment but Forever" or in "Love and Redemption". The female lead, while decent in delivery, doesn’t convey enough depth through her expressions, making the character feel incomplete.

In contrast, the second male lead shines. His acting brought more emotional weight and interest. His storyline was more engaging, and his relationship with Lu Yao had better development and intensity than the main couple. The only passionate kiss we get is from the second leads.

Dialogue often felt like filler, music was dull and unmemorable, and while the visuals and costumes were fine, they didn’t stand out.

A drama with weak romance, bland storytelling, and very little payoff, watchable only for the second lead’s arc if at all.

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Love may not fail but this story is an F

I agree with others that it had a strong compelling start as replacement actress I think fit the role with her kind of beauty, petiteness and acting style= a pixie and ML's stoicism worked but the story utterly went downhill and the ending is not even a head scratcher, it was downright slopped together 'gosh we need to wrap this up'. Watch this at 1.25X or even 1.5X and you'll get through it as the dialogue is not interesting, Second leads story is hammy, and a third lead and villan characterizations are like pouting children who behave as bullies because it turns out they have power (which also makes no sense even in fantasy as to how they got that much power),
Watch the ML in A Moment But Forever, and FL in Sleepless Princess to enjoy their portrayals of similar characters in far more 'I want to watch the next episode" stories.

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Love Never Fails left me with mixed feelings. I really liked the beginning of the story—it had its own charm, which lay in the innocence of the main characters. The love between the male and female leads felt pure and genuine in the early episodes. What made it even more beautiful was how they tried to hide their relationship from the boy’s parents because the girl came from a much lower background. He was a deity, powerful and respected, while she was just a flower spirit—gentle, simple, and humble.

When their love was eventually revealed, things took a dark turn. The girl was punished and sent into oblivion, forced into reincarnation. The deity, blaming himself for her suffering, chose to endure strikes of thunder as punishment and was also sent into reincarnation. After that, they met again in new lives, fell in love once more, and even got married. But something went wrong again. The girl misunderstood and hated him, leading to more separation and pain. This cycle of reincarnation happened two or three times throughout the drama.

Although these reincarnations were meant to deepen the emotional connection, I personally felt that they made the story a bit flat and repetitive. The emotional impact of the original storyline started to fade with each rebirth.

That said, I still enjoyed many parts of the drama. The beginning was lovely, some of the middle plots were engaging, and the happy ending brought closure. I watched the drama mainly because both lead actors are my favorites. I must also praise the acting of the deity’s brother—his performance was powerful and truly stood out. He nailed his role perfectly.

In short, it’s a drama worth watching if you're a fan of emotional fantasy romance, though it may test your patience in the second half.

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A series that gives the feeling of watching an old series

The series started well. It attracted me. I watched 10 episodes. Then I started to get bored. It gave me the impression that they gave a new presentation to an old series. Because I saw Liu Xue Yi young. I saw her a little stiff. I said I am watching the 2025 series but what happened to this one. It looked very slow. On the contrary, the female actress was very lively. It seemed like there was a mismatch. But what impressed me the most was that it was like a presentation of an old series with a new date. Ao Rui Peng seemed like he had just started acting. Even he was very young and at the beginning of his career. Of course, I am not Chinese. I do not follow from there. I am far from the events. We watch whatever is shown to us. I am only a close follower of Chinese Dramas. I watch it with pleasure. That's all. But especially the names are effective in the series we watch. I started watching the series because Liu Xue Yi and Ao Rui Peng were there. I thought such a series would be great with these actors. However, I was disappointed. Although the actors adapted to their jobs, the plot got heavier and more meaningless. Acting was not enough. Romance started, progressed, went well. As I said, it stopped after the 10th episode. There was no progress. It was like a series going back and forth. They became a fairy, an immortal, a demon, a mortal, and I got confused while watching. There was a coldness in a series that already gave the impression of being old. As a result, I couldn't stand it and stopped watching after 22 episodes.

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