Love You Seven Times (2023)

"One Moment of Impulsiveness, Seven Lives of Unluckiness." 

My actual rating : 8.7/10. Finally completed my fifth xianxia drama in 2023. Took me a week to finish this one. Actually I could finish it earlier but keep delaying the inevitable because I don't want it to end (T.T). This just shows how much I enjoyed this drama. LYST remind me much of drama LBFAD because they had similarities in the hair ornaments, color palette used, the realms settings and the OST style.

◇The plot: 8.5/10
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot. If you're a devoted fan of xianxia like me you will enjoyed it regardless of how many times you see the same plot device was used in the drama (:D). The plot starts when our main leads during a banter accidentally tied the ancient love knots on themselves which the result required them to go through seven lifetimes together to untie each knot. They called it as mortal love tribulations. I enjoyed pig x tiger , childhood friends turned lovers, the prince x the empress lifetimes the most. Lifetimes I enjoyed the least which I think quite boring were the master x his disciple and the bodyguard x the princess lifetimes. My most favourite plot is the demon realm storyline. As usual , the bad guys and the good guys here are not as what it seem like. The mystery aspect here also nicely done. Now about that ending scene urgh not again! -SPOILER BEGIN- They just love to end it that way huh. Same ending as in almost xianxias if you know what I mean (I am looking at you Love Between Fairy and Devil, Back From the Brink, The Longest Promise.... ) This is the cliche I did not enjoyed watching in xianxia. Is it too much to ask them to end it with a romance scene between leads. Not just they finally meet ,stares and smiles then the end . Although this one had little improvement where one of them talked and teased the other with question. But I need them to at least hug each other after all the hardship they went through, both of them deserved that hug..... *sigh* -SPOILER END-

◇The angst: 7/10
Just 7 because I don't think this drama is angsty enough. Just contained only few moments of angst here & there especially in the master x his disciple lifetime. Considering our main couple maintained healthy relationship thoroughout the story and honest to each other hence this had low angst meter.

◇The acting: 9/10
This was my 3rd drama of Ding Yu Xi and I remembered enjoyed his TROTAR which leading me to watch his Intense Love after that. But only after watching his performance in LYST I'm totally now his fan. I was impressed with his acting here as Chu Kong/ Lu Chang Kong . I could see he gave his all in every version of Chu Kong in those 7 lifetimes. Ofcourse my favourite version of Chu Kong was him as a cat demon <3 . Can't get enough of his divine looks! I feel for his character the most. His undying love for Xiang Yun . His pain when they need to separate. His smugness when he achieved what he wants and the way he exhibits his playful nature . He succesfully captured my heart with his acting here. To compared with his co-star Yang Chao Yue's acting, he's definitely x3 better. I've watched YCY in The Journey of Chongzi (dnf) and Fireworks of My Heart before and my opinion of her remained the same. She is pretty especially when she smile. But her acting is just okay to me. She's great at acting cutesy but when the scene required her to act with more depth I ain't see that. I'm not feeling much when she cried d/t heartbroken. Most of the times it just felt superficial. If only she put more depth & detail into those scenes it would be perfect.

◇The romance : 9/10
I have no complaints. Totally enjoyed the romance here. Great chemistry displayed by both leads. I could see they feel comfortable around each other. Like when friends turned lovers. The romance is sweet and not spicy at all.

◇OST: 10/10
Great! Great! Great! I'm so in love with the OST . My most favourite :Till the End of Time by Liu Yuning. (I love almost all ost sung by him . A king of Cdrama OST indeed) . I rarely mention BGM in my review but I'm totally in love with the BGM here especially that Dadadada Melody which often appeared in sexy scenes between leads and that war chant in fight scenes.

◇CGI & Cinematography: 9/10
I have nothing but praise. Beautiful and pleasant CGI & cinematography. My favourite settings : Marriage Pavilion, The Star Platform. Love the pastel colors background. Love everything.

◇ Hairstyle &Costumes : 10/10
Dazzling. Elegant. Mesmerizing. My favourites: Chu Kong in his cat demon attire (gotta love that grey hair, forehead mark, adorable vulpine ears, hand accesories & furry outfit!) & Xiang Yun in her colourful red -yellow -brown outfit. Their make up also perfect ! Yang Chao Yue looks so beautiful & Ding Yu Xi so good looking like he just came straight from a manhwa. I like the fact that they didn't overdid it when applying lipstick on him, all natural looking unlike LYX's lips in TTEOTM. There I said it ,the truth.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed this drama to the fullest. Totally recommended if you're a devoted xianxia fan or a beginner to this genre.

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milkymochi is speaking

《How about the storyline, the videography and Costume?》

From the first episode until the last episode it's absolutly beautiful storyline, very clear and there is on point. There is no plot twist but it's really good and I'm watching with smile. This is very light and there is no tricky matter. 38 episode it's perfect and fits. Good ending and well done.

The videography is of a high level, the professional editing on the green screen makes for a beautiful sight and I commend them for their excellent workmanship.

Costume? Don't ask again. It's very beautiful! Tbh I more like ML (Ding YuXi) costume when he become Chu Kong, it's fits with him like the costume is really making for him. I think their budget deployed for clothes, the detail is no kidding.

《What's the most interesting?》

Pigs and tigers, symbols of their love and always appear in each of their reincarnations, even until the end of the episode. They are very thorough and detailed.

Last 4 episode, when Chu Kong go to the supernatural world (underworld) and become a cat demon. The iconic and the cutest ever.

《Why is it bad?》

The story seems rushed and chased as I remember only 38 episodes.

《What about the actor/actress?》

Ding Yuxi as Chu Kong suits him very well and he plays very well in this drama. I watched LYST for Ding Yuxi tbh.

Yang Chaoyue as Xiangyun and Cang Hai. Honestly, I was a bit skeptical when I saw the female lead because of the previous drama but I really liked it in LYST. She looks more mature and even better acting.

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Good xianxia drama

I started watching this mainly because of Ding yuxi after watching his white cat legend drama.
This is the story about love between a fairy and God of war .The story though starts off in Marriage Pavilion in heavens,it quickly proceeds to the entanglement between the ML and FL,after which the both of them set off to their tribulations.
There is a suspense and mystery waiting to be solved which has been buried for 30,,000years.
I liked the mystery segment and the way how it was solved.I can say this is the best part of the drama.
All the seven lives which they underwent were interconnected to each other and also helped the main protagonists in solving a heavenly mystery.
Ding Yuxi as God of War is impressive.As i already said,his acting skills are good.
Yang Chaoyue was also good in her role.
All the other actors,sets,costumes were good.
You will not feel disappointed after watching this drama though it proceeds on a lighter note but may not impact you on a higher note emotionally.
Overall a good drama to watch.

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Recommended starter watch

Are you new to c dramas? Are you a bit lost with all long haired costume dramas? Never fear! Here is the drama which showcases all different kinds of historical chinese costume dramas.

The story is interesting: fateful but amnesiac lovers in the immortal realm have to go through seven love tribulation. The events take place in different worlds and the pair has the strong impression that there is more than meets the eye.

Every setting is intriguing: from animals to princesses and generals to immortals and demons. There is the running animal theme throughout: a tiger and a hog! The actors are good but are for the most part stone faced and they start thawing towards each other steadily as their memories return. The ML has cute dimples and is so pretty with that long hair... The FL has small, very tiny mouth(bad job, make up artist!).

The problem is that in spite of interesting idea and great setting, it is far too long, it drags on and on and on (so much so they messed up the timelines often and were illogical: so try not to use your brain while watching!)...I don't know how many times I fell asleep in front of an episode and later realizing I had not missed anything! The CGI was pretty. The bad guys wore white and the good guys black. How original though it can be surprising if you do not expect it! Immortals' battles are boring: they stand facing each other pointing swords and lances and shooting energy until one of them runs out, falls over coughing blood. Apparently not everyone has the same coloured blood: his is red and hers is blue. Well, she's an empress, after all!

While watching, I kept wondering: what could those immortals be doing for tens of thousands of years in heavenly realm. There is nothing to do: I guess they go and play in mortal realm. In heavenly one they are just haughty, elegant and chaste...I mean the main couple barely kissed, they were usually interrupted by an event of disastrous proportions every time they started getting a bit frisky!

Still, a nice watch but I will stick to short costume dramas from now on!LOL

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fantastic drama

In the narrative of the drama, the male and female lead characters find themselves inexplicably intertwined by destiny right from their first encounter as strangers. Their journey is one marked by numerous highs and lows, as they navigate through the intricacies of their relationship. As they spend more time together, a magnetic pull begins to develop between them, drawing them closer in heart and spirit. Over time, they uncover layers of each other's personalities, forming a deep and meaningful connection that they come to treasure dearly.

The story is adorned with a multitude of humorous anecdotes that take place in the midst of their evolving relationship. These moments of levity provide the audience with laughter and lightness, adding a dynamic dimension to their journey. Equally, there are instances of profound emotion that evoke heartfelt reactions, bringing tears to the eyes of those who are invested in their story. These touching moments serve to underscore the authenticity of the characters' feelings and the genuine bond that is being forged.

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Take a breather before you dive into the next one!

Where do I even start? It was a magnificent and absolute perfection to watch! I'm still reeling from it and definitely in need of a breather before I watch another drama.

The story had me from the synopsis and was well executed in the entirety of the drama. The manipulation of romantic cliches was superb such that I didn't get tired of watching them happen severally in one drama... It is seven lifetimes (that brought on the waterworks each time) we're talking about. I absolutely loved how time was taken to develop the supporting characters and have their stories painted in the overall plot. Discovering the true villain halfway, made me feel as though I had been on a wild goose chase with the one who was supposedly the villain. Having the past being relived instead of being mere flashbacks was more than I expected to find when watching the drama.

This is not the first drama I'm watching that cast Ding Yu Xi and he delivered a stellar performance in this drama as well. I cannot fault his acting especially since there was no disconnect throughout the various roles he played. It is my first encounter with Yang Chao Yue, so I have nothing to compare with. I think for this role, she nailed the delivery of the FL character. I liked how she matured with every lifetime experienced and still retained her 'current' personality. The supporting actors were also on point given that I didn't feel as if there was stalling in between scenes or that the plot was rushed.

OMG! The music! I instantly knew it was Faye with the intro OST of the first episode. I'm leaving this drama with a richer collection of OSTs. They were perfectly timed and in tune with the emotion of each scene which made the drama all the more impactful. Even the instrumental bits. The instrumentals for the tense/ominous scenes is still ringing in my ears.

All in all this drama deserves all the love it's getting

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7 Reasons why I love LOVE YOU 7 TIMES!

I have started a dozen cdramas but has not managed to finish one in a while. Most of the dramas start with a bang and then a long boring part that I can’t get past or sometimes the chemistry between the leads cool down. Then I found this drama.

Without much ado here are my 7 reasons why I love this drama. Here we go!

1 The main leads CHEMISTRY is on fire and cute at the same time . It makes you feel good like when you are in love. Aside from the fact that they are both beautiful, they seem very comfortable with each other which makes it fun to watch, not awkward. There may not be any steamy scenes but you can feel the magic and connection between them. A lot of cute moments ❤️

2. The story and concept.
For me the story is unique in a way because of the 7 (6 if you don’t count the last one/ending I guess) mini stories/dramas in the drama. In each story the cast perform different characters yet connects back to the original drama to complete the puzzle. It is a very interesting concept and entertaining at the same time. A lot of guessing what is going to happen next. TBH this si the only drama I watched where I want the main leads to die so they can avoid the tragedy or move on to the next story. 😁. Watch it to believe it.

3. Cast
ML - His acting is always on point and carried the drama for the most part. He is an awesome actor and deserves the accolades that the viewers will give.
FL - She is fun and enjoyable to watch too. She may not be a best actress but she had her shining moments in this drama. Contrary to rumors being spread about her she does not always have a pouty mouth and whiny voice. She has managed to show her acting range as well. If you have bias against her this might not going to be a fun drama for you. But if you can set that aside you will find this drama enjoyable and worth your time.
Support cast - SML - whose love for the FL is admirable and rivaled that of the ML is consistent, the twins and stone fairy whose love and friendship are pure all played well. The emperor who is an excellent actor and very effective in his portrayal of his role.

4. The costumes and make up - just wow. That is all I can say. The colors , styles and designs of each costume in each life is just wow. It is a feast for the eyes and they deserve an award for this.

5. OST - all are beautiful and well placed to create more excitement, flare and drama to the scenes. There are times when the background noise is loud but that is to the editing and not the music.

6. The HE. It may be short but a happy one. I wished they ruled the heavenly realm as a power couple and had twins but that is asking too much .

7. The production. Amazing. Whoever put together this colorful, exciting and fun drama from the tiniest details of the costumes to the props deserves applaud.

The 1 thing I hate about this drama.

1. The haters who tried to sabotage this drama and continually trolled. Thank goodness I did not listen to them otherwise I would have missed this little treasure.

So, give it a try and see if you find 7things to love about this drama too. 👋

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Interwined Fate Through Seven Lifetimes

Definetely one of the best Xianxia genre in 2023. This drama is light and having a deep love affection between ML and FL. Quite good and unique plot that well written, not alot misunderstanding but more to straightforward relationship.

Started with the strong character of ML (Chu Kong as a God War), naturally born with Golden Qilin. Somehow, met a carefree fairy of marriage pavillion that under attack by the MuLuo divine sect for a Nuwa Stone. Myth said that Nuwa Stone able to resurrect Cang Hai (Muluo Empress) that killed by Chu Kong 30,000 years ago because of the assasination of Dixiu Clan and turning into a devil. Accidentally after encountering each other, their fate binded together by the red threads that said must going through 7 times tribulation to solve it.

They started to building an affection toward each other during the Mortal Tribulation. They protected each other on several lifetimes, suddenly knowing a fact that actually they've met each other long time ago. Curiousty bringing them a braveness to look out the truth of what happened in 30,000 years ago. They get back into the past with an identity as Chu Kong and Cang Hai. Finally, they find out the greatest secret that not written in history about Cang Hai which is Xiang Yun another identity.

Cang Hai wasn't the culprit, she was wronged. The mastermind behind everything is Chu Kong's brother, Hao Xuan (Reigning Emperor). Hao Xuan took away Ming Yue (Canghai Hidden Sister) who is naturally born with an evil aura. After that Hao Xuan also the one who make eveything becoming a mess 30,000 years ago.

Chu Kong and Cang Hai started their plan to blow up this secret to the world, and bring back the truth.

The story line well organized, also the actor do their job excellently that make this drama become one of the best Xian Xia in 2023. OST well choosen, boosted up every situation as if it was alive.

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Pairing is the best thing, but hey, it's a romance story at the end of the day

To me, Love You Seven Times never aspired to claim the title of the best drama of the year. It didn't set overly high expectations, yet it managed to provide an enjoyable and satisfying piece of entertainment.

I've noticed that many readers of the novel were left disappointed with the adaptation. While I believe the novel might offer a more finely crafted story, I haven't read it, which could explain why my assessment isn't as harsh.

Let's begin with what garnered the most discussion about this drama: the acting. Ding Yuxi undeniably delivered an outstanding performance. He immersed himself in his character, breathing life into it in an admirable manner. It's fascinating how, across different lifetimes, he portrayed subtle distinctions while maintaining consistency in his character. His portrayal was both concise and brilliant.

On the other hand, Yang Chaoyue's acting didn't reach the same level. While some viewers disliked her portrayal, I found it to be passable. She's neither a standout actress nor a terrible one, just somewhere in the middle. The issue may have been that she was placed alongside an exceptional actor, making her shortcomings more noticeable.

Despite the imbalance between the leads, I wouldn't trade their pairing. Their on-screen and off-screen chemistry is one of the drama's highlights, convincingly portraying them as a loving couple.

One aspect I thoroughly enjoyed was the visual aesthetics. This drama boasts some of the finest costume and scenery designs I've seen in a while. They fully capitalized on the opportunities presented by the Xianxia genre, resulting in a stunning production, from the celestial Heavenly Realm to the vibrant Mortal Realm and captivating Demon Realm. All three were a feast for the eyes. Additionally, the soundtrack was delightful.

The comedic moments were numerous and highly entertaining, with Yang Chaoyue shining brightest in these scenes.

The theme of multiple lives and the unwavering choice of each other in each one resonated with me as a sucker for romance, providing a satisfying narrative arc. The way these various lives intricately wove together and explained events as they unfolded was enjoyable. The one exception was the princess/general storyline, which felt rushed and out of place. I couldn't even form an attachment to that setting before the characters returned to the Heavenly Realm.

The third life and the Demon Realm arcs were the highlights. They both offered many elements that I found highly enjoyable.

The heartwarming relationships between Chu Kong, Xiangyun, Qian Mou, and Qian Ren, especially the latter two and their amusing yet endearing friendship, were satisfying to witness. However, I felt that the development of an equally strong friendship between Zihui and Jin Lian was lacking, leaving me expecting a rekindling of their bond that never materialized.

Turning to the aspects I didn't appreciate, I must mention the rushed romance. While I loved the leads' relationship, their sudden intense love for each other caught me off guard. It felt abrupt, almost as if I had skipped an episode and missed a crucial development between them.

The villain and overall conflict in the story were lacking depth and intrigue. It's challenging to pinpoint specific shortcomings because they simply failed to engage or offer anything novel or captivating.

Xiu Ming's character was particularly bad. I found him more detestable than the main villain and was genuinely disappointed when he received redemption at the end. His initial annoyance persisted, and he largely remained inconsequential during the middle parts until his sudden return to aid the leads.

The ending left much to be desired. I've grown weary of one of the main characters dying only to miraculously return in the final moments without any explanation of how, why, or when they managed to rise from the dead. While I understand that this may sometimes be a workaround to censorship, it's disheartening that the writers couldn't devise a more innovative solution to this recurring issue.

In conclusion, Love You Seven Times is worth watching. It may not become your favorite piece of media or a life-altering experience, but if you're seeking an enjoyable Xianxia romance, it's a solid choice.

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Love through seven lifetime - beautiful drama

I really love the concept of this drama. I love romance and this dramas gave it. We got to see them falling in love again and they were so cute together. They also have good chemistry and they were together for lots of of episodes in my opinion compared to other dramas. There was no misunderstanding, no break up also.

They loved each other so much, they were truly fated and it’s was beautiful to see also the past when they first meet and fell in love. All the details too, like the red string and the soul protector spell. I absolutely loved that

I really loved the ML, he was so cute and handsome. I love his acting. The FL was good too.

It’s was sad and beautiful, made me cry, smile and laugh. The second couple broke my heart too.

CGI and costumes were beautiful. love the ost

Some negative point for me :
- the kissing scenes were horrible
- the second lead was so annoying for most of the drama, I just wanted him to go away and die. He was always in the way and he was delusional if he ever thought he had a chance. At least he got useful at the end.
- happy ending, but I hate 1 min happy ending, it makes me mad. Like the ML died early in the episode, the could have show a lot more of the happy ending of the main leads. I didn’t care about the others and the people in the heavenly realm, they showed too much of them. I read somewhere that in the novel they get married in the end, we needed more. Also, all the talk about completing their wedding, travel together, etc and we got nothing
- also the ending for the second couple, why ? It’s like an open ending, I wanted him to recognize her and run to her. They both left their way.
- so I don’t know in general the ending wasn’t good enough for me, so…. had to give 9,5 and not 10/10

I would recommend this drama

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