The Demon Hunter's Romance

An epic and entertaining tales of demon hunting with intelligent script that trust the audiences.

Everyone must question how on earth a drama written about demon hunting can be so engaging and compelling? Then give this drama a try. Everything about it will defy what would you might have an impression of the genre. While the story is about Xuanye, the Demon Hunter and Banxia, a girl who happen to have the ability to see demons, what spiral from this story goes beyond layers and depth and in the end gave us an epic love story that defy destruction, fate and destiny.

THE ACTING

One of the strongest aspects of this drama is the stellar acting from the casts. Ren Jialun impressed me so much with his portrayal of Xuanye, a demon hunter with a tragic past. The way he dressed down for the role, you can’t see him but his character. His dedication to be the character is simply amazing – his mannerisms, his sarcastic smiles, or his soft way of talking totally sold us as a demon hunter with a heart of gold -- ferocious against his enemies but delicate towards his love ones. Then we have Song Zu’er as Banxia. I personally think this is Song Zu’er best role to date -- she is beyond amazing in this drama. She got to play 3 different characters here and she played every one of them perfectly. And those never-ending tears? How can one person has so much tears?

THE DIRECTING

Since this drama is directed by the famous female director Lin Yu Fen, you can see how the directing really elevates the whole storytelling. The effective use of camera frame & angles, with clear artistic vision and adding a lot of originality and imagination to tell a story that is not only well written but very entertaining as well. For an example the whole Painting Demon arc in the drama -- when everyone entered the painting with different personalities, is an effective way of telling a story that highlight the abilities and range that the actors’ possessed without relying on the usual ‘amnesia’ plot. While delivering an out of the box storytelling in the same arc, the Director deep understanding of the narrative structure (repeated day), character developments (even when the characters are not themselves), pacing (linking each day to another), and how to evoke emotions through visual language are used effectively to the fullest. And the way she captured all the emotional scenes, she knows what to emphasize, what to highlight, and how to build tension and create impact. A lot of highly emotional scene in the drama wouldn’t be as impactful as we felt if is being shot from another director’s lens.

Also, worth to point out how detail she made the drama’s overall world-building. When they entered the Mirror Demon's world, the sky is the reflection (mirror) of the town. And when they entered the Painting Demon's world, the sky is a painting. I love how the nature of the demon reflected in the sky -- they cant really create a completely real world so the flaws can be seen in the sky. Or how she shot the underground city where it seemed like the characters are really underground was shot stunningly. Or the bustling town of Guanping, it was such a beautiful sight to behold and the colors and different architecture of the houses made the whole town colorful and very lively.

THE WRITING

As someone who is after good writing in dramas, this drama meant a world, A WORLD for me. The writing has been really fantastic with intricate details and planning that you can see how it spanned over several episodes before the event actually happened. The characters were written with their own personalities and motives that you can basically predict what are they going to do with how well written they were. I find the script to be one of the strongest reasons for the drama's popularity. Instead of aiming to shock in the first few episodes, it actually took time to take off. But while doing it that way, they properly wrote the introduction and set the stage and later you can see how one case and another case woven together beautifully like a flowing water.

I love like how the demons who masked their true forms to fool and mingling with human, the leads as well started with a different presentation of their true self. Xuanye looks like an earnest demon hunter initially during his first introduction to us until when we reached the next arc of the story when we finally figure out that he is actually nonchalant and pretty apathetic due to his past. Then we have Banxia, which seemed a little slow and dim-witted until she stopped taking the calm medicine then we started to see the colorful girl that she actually is -- brave, kind and adorably naïve and lovable. Its the same with the demons -- with each case, we supposed to see these different perspectives of them -- are they all bad or there are some that are good? And while the first case seemed to gloss over the demon, we got more of them in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th case. Each one of these cases started to give us different narrative of their true self and nature.

Script that ‘show’ than ‘tell’ - The writer also using some interesting writing choice to present us the plot without appearing that they are spoon feeding us the information which I enjoy. For an example, we didn’t know some information about these demons and their power but the characters do, so what the writer did is having one of the characters reading the book loudly to us to give us the plan and information then later having Xuanye getting annoyed on why they read it loudly -- thus passing it as quirks of the characters.

Interconnecting plot where everything seamlessly woven with each other, effortlessly - Everything, literally everything has reasons. And I love the fact that the writer always established the plot first in different stages before the revelation, so you can feel the gravity of the matters in hand when you remember when it all started. And instead of creating something new to move the romance, she always used these existing plot points to further it. For example, Banxia repeatedly walking in the forest alone (part of her personality which is brave and also to show her desperation and isolation for having that curse), well that lead to our leads' first romantic encounter with the firefly. Then the tied-up hands while sleeping, the first stage was established way before in Episode 1 on how the sword has different effects – when Xuanye ate 10 bowls of foods. So now, the writer used one of the effects (sleeping) as a reason for Xuanye to tie his hands with Banxia. Then comes to the white hair, which is also one of the effects of the sword which his life span will shorten everytime he used it. Then the writer used the same excuse of the white hair for the dyeing hair scene -- which another romantic moment for the couple. And what’s more amazing, we also established this fact that Banxia didn’t do that out of the blue but she offered it because she done it for her Dad's before so it wasn’t out of character but more like innocent take on that matter -- since she didn’t realize that she likes him too at that time. I love how everything seamlessly woven with each other, effortlessly. From the demon storyline (different take on themes, type of love and perspectives) to all the leads' interaction with each other to all the mysteries behind everything.

Script with nuance and subtext - This drama has a lot of subtext that you can only know the real layers of the script if you pay enough attention to it. For an example, the Cat Demon case. In this case, the Cat Demon which is called 'Nine Lives' is selling his lives so that he can gather enough money so that he can hire Xuanye's Demon Hunter fee. The script didn’t feed up and tell us this out loud but it is implied throughout the story on how he went everywhere selling his lives. The script did tell us on how desperate he is when he is saving Xuanye's constable friend life for $200 -- ''Traded his life for merely $200? Is it worth it?'' -- and we only get the heaviness of that sentence after his death. I also love when we dwell more on these demons and their back stories. Like the Mirror Demon, it is such a good revelation that he has been with the dancer probably hundreds of years which explain the love and obsession.

Effective use of red herrings - For a mysteries drama, the usage of red herring is an effective tool for excellent storytelling and this drama excelled in this tremendously. There are a lot of false clues to mislead us so it becomes a good guessing game while we are watching the drama. Like the Puppet Demon case, everything and everyone is suspicious in the early stage. The red herrings are effective as which you can feel everything is wrong in that place -- everything look suspicious yet you still have no idea who and what to point out since everything look right and normal at the same time.

Deceptive storytelling - In one of the case, which is Puppet Demon case, the writer opt to do deceptive storytelling with this case as this is all planned by Xuanye to lure the demon out. This is one of my favorite writing methods as the Director will show us one 'narrative' on screen in order to fool us BUT at the same time give us many hints on why we should not trust that 'narrative'. And what I find amazing is how effective is the directing & acting in this particular arc since I can catch something is wrong with some out-of-behavior things that Xuanye did. First, with the eyeballs, ever notice why he brings them everywhere without reasons? Then when consoling Banxia's cousin, he actually touch his hand which is such an out-of-character thing for him to do, then we know why later. 😉 Then, when he take Banxia hand and say thank you to her with that long smile and her awkward expression -- that again was weird and I was taken aback and I'm glad that there is actually explanation for it as there is no way both of the leads are doing bad acting for that scene. I love how effective those are since now everything I questioned in the plot actually have reasons and make sense.

Script that want the audiences to participate - One of the facets in the drama that I immensely enjoy is that it actively asking the audiences to participate when discovering the mysteries together with the characters. For an example, during the Painting Demon arc. It is indeed a good and unexpected revelation on who is the true mastermind. The whole writing in this arc had me in awe on how they asked us to guess together with Xuanye who is the real mastermind and lay all the clues for us to do it -- its not something that Xuanye pulling from his ass since he is the only genius one in the room.

Mindblown details in the script that traced back from the beginning – This is one of the detail in the script that completely will blow your mind over. Remember Xuanye draw the Cause-Effect Sword in order to save Banxia? The effect of the sword is that they totally erased Mr Cui (Xuanye's Dad worker) & Mrs Cui from their lives that is why Mr Cui missed the recruitment notice in front of Xuanye's Dad shop. And now, Mrs Cui doesn’t have any memories of Banxia saving her or memories of Xuanye as well since her husband didn’t work there. So, it meant that her husband is still alive and now a blacksmith and her, since Banxia didnt interfere with her fate in this new timeline, will probably die as no one going to save her this time around. And what makes the writing so amazing is that they have set up this Mrs Cui in earlier episodes when Xuanye visit her house when she's sick -- it wasn’t a filler scene but an important one to show us the severity of using this sword. So, the writer already planned for this arc to happen since early on and have set the stage for it. Also, point to notice how since Banxia will no longer have White Crow curse on her as Xuanye already killed it (the cause), so the Mirror Demon also didn’t exist and that’s why we can see Banxia dancer friend is eating a pear after that. Also, the night when Banxia forgave Xuanye when she's sleeping holding his hand and they made up -- it also didnt happen that is why when Chi Zhe asked them if they made up, she said 'No' and she is still grumpy a few days after that when the marriage date announced since technically, she and Xuanye never reconcile properly. So, the heartwarming proposal that Xuanye gave her is the point that they are together again.

No plot armors or holes - I also love how everytime you question something and point out plot armors or holes, the drama will address it later. Like the conversation Xuanye had with Banxia to keep pretending to be a married couple and then Wunniang knocks the door right after that -- she must have heard the conversation? But it soon revealed that you can barely hear from outside since even when Banxia is saying something alone in her room, Xuanye can’t hear what she said as well.

Thought-provoking script with lessons – Since this drama handles with different demons, themes and situations, it comes with heavy lesson in each arc stories. I also love the question that they posed on whether to leave the junior monk keeps living in this painting or bring him out where he will be an old man with no youth left in him -- there is no right or wrong answer for this question. Also the part of living each day happily without having to worry about anything – only to discover the day keeps repeating itself would you consider it as heaven or is it hell on earth?

THE ROMANCE

What always gets me about how the romance is filmed in this drama is how it’s the perfect mix of actors' chemistry, acting and writing. Especially the writing which sets up why they would be so drawn to one another since their relationship started with trust and understanding and how the depth of their feelings impacted them and their actions throughout the drama without having to rely on many kissing scenes or anything overtly sexual. And they also have these dynamics of Poor ML and Rich FL which one of the rare combinations in Cdramas. And it makes them so refreshing to watch.

Both of the leads are also really convincing in portraying a couple in love with all those expressions, tiny gentle gestures and their concern with each other. It’s the combination of acting as well as writing on how their love story, despite being brief in each episode, yet so unforgettable. Notice how the writer always interlaced their interactions with funny moments? That light, tender and funny moments add depth into their relationship and you can see the progression of their attraction to each other. And when Banxia explained to her friend why she loves Xuanye, it is because he makes her feel safe, you totally get it too since thats how he always been with her, even when they are strangers.

Plus, the lead has this calm chemistry that I really dig. He hesitates in confessing his feelings due to their status yet you can see how much he loves her in everything that he did. It’s in the little details on how he recognized it is not her with just one sentence when a puppet demon took her face and he also recognized her by touching her tiny lil hands even when her face is covered -- these little details that speaks thousands of words. She is demure and gentle yet she is assertive when it comes to him. She didn't hide her feelings and wore her feelings on sleeve that everyone can see them clearly.

And one of the aspects that I love about this drama is that they are written as pillars to each other. She is written as someone actively helping him and not someone that he constantly need to save or protect -- they are not written as weakness but strength to each other. When this kind of writing happen, you know you are watching a good story.

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A Demon Living a Human Life as a Demon Hunter & a Human Able to see Demons

What will fate bring them? Filmed 3 years ago, as always I go into each drama without any expectations and as though I knew the ML, both second leads, and various other characters; it was my first time seeing the FL outside one variety show. I will say I was very pleasantly impressed by the storyline as a whole and the characters.

Pros: The arcs were seamlessly intertwined and went from one to another without missing a beat. Our leads met and that too had a lot to do with fate as he saved her when they were kids but because of that he fell from his demon world into her mortal one and both lost their memories. He thought he was a human and therefore adopted as one becoming the successor demon hunter (ironically) of a righteous sect. Due to the blow he took for her, some of his demonic blood got into her left eye making her see demons with one eye. So it became a demon living a human life as a demon hunter & a human able to see demons all thanks to each other. None of this was revealed until much later in the show as they continued to solve cases seemingly unrelated and yet very much so together. He taught her that like humans, there were good and bad demons and that both species could peacefully coexist, especially if demons cultivated enough to shape-shift into human form.

ML or XY grew up in a sect/demon hunter/pharmacuetical family but was dealt a heavy blow 6 years prior when his human family was possessed by a poisonous demon and he had to kill them; though after a cryptic message to XY in regards to his demonic origins that his son only understood towards the end, his father chose to end his own life. XY was living in the shadows of that awful night and even though he was exonerated of the murders by his "uncle" aka the antagonist of the piece, rumors never ceased and he was not only distrusted but also hated by ignorant people. His father upon discovering XY's truth, created a powerful mystical tattoo bracelet to keep the truth always hidden under the ruse that it would protect him in times of danger. XY inherited his adoptive father's 5 mystical hidden swords that he carried with him everywhere and were used accordingly. They however always had a backlash affect each time he would use them, first on himself and then on the FL and others in close proximity.

FL or BX was a young lady that could see demons out of her left eye only. She came from a very wealthy family and though they loved her very much, they kept her sheltered and drugged because they didn't believe in the existence of demons so they thought she was crazy. Due to that at first, she was very shy and timid but once the truth was revealed to her with the Hidden-Owl demon her cousin married and meeting XY, she started to get braver and more outspoken until both her brother realized and her father admitted that he had lied to her. He mother supposedly passed 10 years before and then suddenly her father was supposedly murdered in a fire. But BX was smarter than to believe the latter so that's how her path with XY would permanently cross, change, and evolve.

Bringing demons and people to justice, ultimately rescuing both of her parents and trying to figure out who the mastermind was while at the same time XY's origins came to light with his brother coming into the mortal realm kept them busy and us wanting more. I was very proud of BX as she reminded me a lot of MQG from "Love of the Divine Tree", no matter how dire the situation was, she remained determined to stay by XY's side and fix whatever problem together. She would cry and that steadfastly made him understand she wasn't going anywhere. She even rescued him when he changed into his demon body and was caught.

Romance and love was very subtle but it was there. It never overpowered anything else that was going and there was a lot. Their bond remained (I believe) even when she let him go and didn't follow him to his world at the end because she knew that at that time she didn't belong there and that perhaps in 12 years they would reunite and by that time she could go with him. It was a bittersweet OE but given that she was a human and he was a demon, neither could give up their responsibilities; his to his land as he was a prince plus his land was in chaos and dying out plus his brother couldn't handle it on his own anymore and her to her family as they were still young. In 12 years a lot could and would change and perhaps as his adoptive father said (who like everyone else that died, came back when XY restarted their timelines only with everyone forgetting his existence except BX who was once again deemed crazy but for different reasons as opposed to seeing demons, this time she knew there was someone she was never meant to forget, their love being that strong and of course with the help of some demon who somehow retained all his memories, she finally remembered but with only one day to spare), he hoped he and XY would reunite again. I firmly believe that day will come in 12 years for father, son, and BX and this time she would go with him.

The friends and supporting characters that were awesome adding to the already phenomenal martial arts of XY and comedy were CX our beloved bunny, YH, SLL, WJ, XY's dad, BX's family, ZK, and several other demons they met like Nine Lives and the snake serpent one; I've liked the actor ever since I've seen him in TLB though it's been a long time and though he had a small role here, it still was great. The small villains all did what they were supposed to do except for the little shit sand demon who could have just said his lines not shrieked them; would have helped a lot. The main antagonist, we knew who he was from nearly the beginning so no real surprise there but he played him well even surprising me with how strong of a martial artist he was considering he seemed in poor health when we saw him the few times before more and more of his motives were revealed. Out of all of the arcs, the creepy doll one was my favorite. The acting on her part was scary accurate to a real marionette doll.

The sets and CGI was done really well, you felt it was almost 3D, costumes were also on point. You could also tell how XY's character changed with his costumes; from who cares how I look, to lighter outer clothing if happy or darker if upset to black leather as prince black Panther at the end.

Cons: While a lot was very well done, somethings lacked like calling it "The Demon Hunter's Romance" should have been instead called "The Experience of a Demon Living & Loving as a Human in the Human World." We all know Allen Ren doesn't do romance well especially the kissing for whatever his personal reasons are; thankfully here the romance was subtle and ran more like an underlying current but it would still have been nice to at least get one proper kiss in since it was part of the genre. Furthermore, AR should try other genres other than romance because he'd do great in those where romance was unnecessary.

Felt the last few episodes were rushed especially XY making everyone forget him as he restarted the timeline and though some events still happened as that was fate, others didn't and even in this second chance BX was not timid but brave. But as he stood or followed watching her grow up, you felt incredibly sad for him that he was all alone in this world where he used to have friends. The drag out to the final episode while she just spent all her time running into him and crying while trying to remember, I felt was very cruel to her. I do think that basically the entirety of 36 once she FINALLY got her memories back for me anyways it was understandable that they were going to part. There was no way around that and they spent most of 36 basically getting ready for that. I don’t think she was going to marry anyone else and neither was he. I firmly believe they will reunite in 12 years, forever this time.

Now it's coming out from the screenwriter that they had actually written BX as a half demon which is what the majority of us thought she was and therefore could have left with him and we could have had a great happy ending. But the directors for whatever reason decided to go this "creative" route instead. While I'm fine with a well written bittersweet although hopeful OE, I would have preferred the half demon/HE instead and it would have made even more sense. Directors made a similar decision in A Moment But Forever and it could have been better with the more obviously and already written HE. More often than not these "creative" choices do a drama more harm than good.

None of the OSTs were memorable other then sometimes drowning out what the characters were saying. Proper editing could have handled that.

Would I recommend it? I totally would! This story had so many amazing plots and subplots interwoven and the characters that you grew to love and admire even if they were on screen for a short time, that you just wanted to watch more of it. It took 3 years, but it was worth the wait!

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