The Demon Hunter's Romance (2025)

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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A 10/10 in my book

Originally, I just wanted to rate this drama without writing a review, but the finale has left me so emotional, I have to write it out to let it go. Let's get into it.
I started to watch because I really liked Allen Ren in Burning Flames and hell yes to any actor I like in a hero leading role. I was definitely not disappointed.
The story. As the title suggests, we have Allen Ren as Jiu Xuanye, the demon Hunter, slowly falling for Banxia (Song Zu Er) through the course of solving the disappearance and finding Banxia's parents while fighting demons. There are no loop holes in this plot, everything is paced really nice through a series of seemingly separate cases. I really don't have anything to add to the plot or any major critique. The writers did an awesome job and this script is one of the best ones out there in my humble opinion. I even really liked the ending and the butterfly effect in the plot. Around ep 25ish when we learned about Xuanye's true identity, I thought I was going to hate the ending. But this butterfly effect twist was just. Very well written.
The casting. I don't have anything to add here. As I said, I love Allen Ren, I loved every character and actor. In fact, I knew only two actors in this cast, so there were many new faces for me. I especially want to raise Sima Lingying (Fan Shuai Qi is absolutely gorgeous) and Chu Youhuang (Xuan Yan, his face is so interesting and perfect for his character).
The soundtrack. I did not even notice the soundtrack at first, only as the story progressed and I realized that the songs are so beautiful and stand out to me. Especially in the finale. Perfection.
Rewatch value. I gave a 9.5 because I think this drama is written so well, that some people might want to rewatch it. For me personally, I really rewatched only very few dramas. They were mainly dramas with comedy elements or they stood out to me in a way. I do not see myself watching The Demon Hunter's romance again, mainly because the finale was so emotional but when I do watch dramas again, I usually do not watch until the end.
Lastly, there are two kinda funny parallel to other dramas things to me about this drama - one is, that the inn in the Underground city was called Wu Geng Inn. Wu Geng was the name of the main character in Burning Flames, portrayed by Allen Ren. And the other thing is, that the Sha Man demon (Li Yu) was painting the magical painting in this drama. Li Yu portrayed a brush magical tool in Tiger and Crane.

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The Best Ever

This Demon Hunters Romance deserves a solid 10/10 for its exceptional acting, with both the male lead and female lead delivering standout performances that make their chemistry undeniable. The martial arts sequences are expertly choreographed, adding an exciting and intense layer to the story. The plot strikes a perfect balance between action and romance, with both leads experiencing significant character development that enhances their connection. The world-building is rich, immersing viewers in a captivating demon-hunting universe, while the cinematography beautifully captures every key moment. The supporting cast adds depth to the narrative, and the romance feels heartfelt and earned. Overall, the pacing is just right, keeping the story engaging without feeling rushed or slow, making this series a must-watch for fans of action and romance alike.

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First historical fantasy watch 2025

I just finished watching this drama, and I have to say—I was completely hooked from the very beginning. The story had me so engrossed, I couldn’t stop watching. But I have to admit, the ending left me really disappointed.

Why did they have to make it so sad? It felt like the characters were never going to see each other again, and it just didn’t feel fair after everything they’d been through. After investing so much in their journey, we deserved a happy ending—something hopeful.

Would it have been too much to ask for a reunion, maybe a scene five years later with them happy, maybe married, with a kid or even just a dog? Anything to show that all that pain led to something beautiful. But instead, we were left with heartbreak. Honestly, I just wanted something that made it all feel worth it.
All in All the demon hunters romance was really nice,I liked the chemistry between the actors as well as well as the story line I wished there where more demons and fighting scenes to make it more interesting but still I was satisfied.Will definitely watch again

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Best CDrama of 2025 so far

I think I will never get over this drama.

I always love fantasy wuxia dramas, and this drama has a very logic, intelligent and consistent plot, with excellent acting from the whole cast, including the leads and all the supporting actors. Its visual effects and cinetography is great as well, for a drama that was filmed back in 2022. I also love this drama's background music and makeup style for the characters. It really gives this drama a mystic and demonic vibe, which is perfect for a demon-hunting drama.

What makes this drama even more special is that it doesn't feel unrealistic at all, despite its fantasy elements. I felt like demons really existed while I was watching this drama. I really love the visuals of the characters too. They don't look stunning at all, but it fits their characters and historical facts. I also love the action scences in this drama. All the actors have shown great martial arts skills in their action scenes. They look like human beings were running around and fighting for real against demons, not different creatures just flying in the sky, like in a lot of other wuxia period dramas.

I love all the characters in this drama, especially our leads Banxia and Xuan Ye. Our female lead Banxia is really lovely. She is smart, soft and kind-hearted, and on the other hand, she's also very playful, brave and straightforward. She's very soft towards Xuan Ye, but she never hesitate to say what's in her heart, and always stands up for herself and other people. When she realizes she's in love with Xuan Ye, she's not shy but just follows her heart and shows him she cares about him. She also has playful and adorable sides that she only shows it when she is with Xuan Ye. It's been a long while since I met this kind of female characters in a Chinese drama.

The romance between the leads is just perfect. It's slow burn and very gentle. They just slowly go into each other's heart without realizing. They are perfect for each other, and treat each other with care and respect. Xuan Ye is really a gentleman. He's always soft and protective towards Banxia, even when he doesn't realize he's in love with her. He's slower than Banxia when it comes to love, as he's a lonely man with a lot of fear and insecurity developed by a tragic trauma. He has a sad past and he would gradually let it go after he meets Banxia.

Everything about this drama is so perfect, except for the ending. If it had a different ending or a season 2, I would give it a 100 out of 10. The ending is just unacceptable and it really ruins a good story. How come they give us that kind of ending after all the sweetness they give us throughout the whole series? It doesn't make any sense. I couldn't stop crying at the last episode and couldn't stop thinking about it for weeks! And what's worse is that it's not in the original script but it's Iqiyi who interfered and changed it. OMG I'm so mad! I haven't recovered from it and I think I would never recover, unless Iqiyi gives me a season 2 and a happy ending for our Banxia and Xuan Ye! :(

I still recommend this to everyone. It’s definitely worth your time. Just skip the last 10 minutes.

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To quote the drama itself: Ridiculous, huh?

I did enjoy the show a lot for most of it, but the lack of cohesiveness in terms of themes and tone made what could have been an amazing drama, into just a decent one.

Here’s the thing - most of the show did not have one big plot that puts it all together. It felt like a borderline investigation slice of life - and I enjoyed it, but mostly because of the leads. I loved how Jiu Xuan Ye was not this powerful, cold male lead that changes thanks to love. I appreciated how Duan Ban Xia was not this badass lady warrior with no fears. They were both well written characters with great chemistry that felt more like a cosy fireplace than hell fires. Even the supporting characters were enjoyable, not following the typical copy paste filler roles.

Honestly - Ban Xia was perfect. She was so real with her reactions, the effect her traumas had on her, with how her character developed and progressed. One of my favorite female leads so far from the dramas I have seen in 2025. She was both adorable and vulnerable, but also brave. She was not fearless, but she was willing to act despite her fears.

But then the characters are kind of all the show had to offer for me. I know many people loved the demon stories, but for me they tried to both keep them eerie and dark, but also many scenes felt more whimsical and fairytale-like. On paper they worked, emotionally they felt shallow. The tone was neither this nor that and it made me disconnect from the story.

And that leads me to the biggest disappointment - the ending. I’m not even saying the ending was bad because it was bitter sweet. It was just an ending to a completely different drama than I was watching the whole time. While I agree that the theme of sacrifice was present throughout most of the cases, it was always related to sacrificing yourself for the person you love or cherish. So if the drama ended around episode 34-35 with Jiu Xuan Ye using the sword to set it all back to how it was before they met to save Ban Xia - I would be far more okay with it. It would make sense in the context of the show.

But then the last two episodes happened. Why is Jiu Xuan Ye’s conclusion about him saving the demon realm? This was never part of his arc until the last second twist. Why is Ban Xia’s conclusion letting Jiu Xuan leave? When her whole arc was about fighting to be with him - her choosing to stay with him no matter what was her gaining the agency for herself. Because no matter what happened and what everyone said - it was her decision. And now she is like: well, I guess that would be a goodbye.

I just simply do not feel satisfied with the ending, because it does not make much sense for him with how the characters were throughout the episodes. I don’t even want to talk about the fake cheap deaths - that’s another story. The last few episodes are a typical case of ending leaving a bad taste in my mouth, even though most of the meal was great. Sadly, the last bite is what we often remember the most.

No matter how many complaints I might have about the conclusion, I have to compliment the acting. Song Zu Er - she knows how to cry! The angst she delivered was pure perfection. At the same time the bubbly happy moments were also delivered in a way they were charming and fun to watch.

We all know Ren Jia Lun is great. I do think he might need to move away from romance though. My man is 36 years old and still delivered some of the worst kissing scenes.

Overall, somehow disappointed. I wish they would keep the lighter tone till the end. I loved how normal the supernatural plot felt, but then by the end they tried to turn it into something bigger and more grand than they were setting up.

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A slow burn into magic and meaning

I liked this one from the start — not super-loved, but definitely liked. I wasn’t 100% sold on the demons or the FL at the beginning, but the story quickly pulled me in as both the world-building and the characters grew stronger. Everything starts to make this kind of magical sense, and the intertwining story arcs are clever, twisty takes on some classic themes.

There are some great supporting actors in this one too — for example at least two familiar faces from Guardians of the Dafeng, a recent favorite of mine. Fan Shuai Qi plays Sima Ling Ying — she was one of the Gold Gongs in Guardians, and honestly, she’d make a fantastic female general. Hope she goes far. And Vinnie Yao, who played the hilarious alchemist, is a great addition to this cast as well.

Character development is a big win here, especially in how the leads get to know and slowly accept each other. There are definitely some dark clouds on the horizon for their relationship right now, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a happy ending. Will post an update once the drama finishes. Anyway, highly recommended.

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From Action-Packed to Melodramatic

The Demon Hunter's Romance is a Chinese drama that truly captivates with its blend of action, suspense, and heartfelt moments. The acting across the board is outstanding, with each actor bringing their character to life with great depth and emotion. The costumes are beautifully designed, capturing the fantasy world of the drama, while the scenery elevates the story, with stunning landscapes and intricate sets that immerse viewers in this mystical realm.

The narrative itself is incredibly engaging, with multiple intriguing arcs that keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. There's a perfect balance between suspenseful plot twists, thrilling action sequences, and lighthearted, funny moments that give the show a well-rounded feel. From start to finish, the drama knows how to hook the audience, making each episode more exciting than the last.

For the most part, The Demon Hunter's Romance stays consistent in delivering a great story up through episode 34, which builds to an epic and satisfying conclusion. If you're looking for a perfect stopping point, I highly recommend watching up to this episode as it wraps up the main storylines wonderfully.

However, the final two episodes (35 and 36) take a dramatic turn that might not be to everyone's taste. These episodes are filled with melodrama, drawn-out farewells, flashbacks, and an overwhelming amount of sorrow that stretches across both episodes. While the emotional weight is undeniably powerful, the pacing feels excessive. For a quicker resolution, I suggest skipping ahead to the final moments of episode 36, which provide a brief but meaningful outlook on the future, offering closure without the emotional overload.

Overall, I would rate the series a solid 10/10 for episodes 1 through 34. The storytelling, character development, and pacing are top-notch, making it a must-watch for fans of fantasy dramas. If you're prepared for a bit of melodrama at the end, then this show is certainly worth your time.

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What endures

This is a great addition to the demon-hunting/solving cases genre, with some real attempts at probing some deeper themes and not just a light-hearted romance or adventure story. The first half of the show has a more eerie, creepy vibe that I found more interesting, while the second half did suffer a bit of being too long-winded and sentimental. However, overall, this is a rewarding watch for fans of the cast and period dramas in general.

While the ending may leave some dissatisfied, when considering this genre historically in Chinese literature and mythology, it is not a surprising one. It also matches the overall tone of the drama - hopeful yet always with a tinge of sadness. Bittersweet, as some would say. Such is life, and such are the lives of many in this show. Only love perhaps can endure all bitterness and heal all wounds, but it may take time or a lifetime to find such love that can overcome all.

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