Love Game in Eastern Fantasy

Had potential to be the best

Despite being a huge fan of both Ryan and Esther, and especially the screenwriter Bai Jin Jin I will still be objective with my review of this drama as I read the manhua as well and can compare both.

The drama starts amazing. The female lead is trapped in a fantasy world and has to seduce a villain to be able to survive, a very exciting concept that many enjoy and rarely anyone dislikes. For some time the drama achieves exactly that, it is funny, warm and definitely worth the hype but as the drama goes on it slowly strays away further from the introduced theme that we were sold and gets replaced by countless characters and their lore where two main leads suddenly feel like support characters in their own drama.

As much as I like that the show went a different path from manhua that turned quite toxic and dirty, the drama failed at finding a perfect balance and decided to go to the extreme making the leads romance seem like two kids in love. At the start there's tension between the leads and we are showered with many romantic and funny moments between them but at some point in the story, it falls off and we no longer feel that yearning between them despite the short amount of them being together.

However it wasn't about the lack of kisses but the lack of romantic moments after the couple got together. The two other main leads and the lore of countless other characters is shoved down our throat giving us only a minute of the two main leads bonding not allowing us to take it all in. Many of the other characters were quite underwhelming yet the need to highlight them just drained my energy as I saw no reason support nor like their lack of communication. I would've liked more seeing the lore of the tree people than a second couple who could not communicate for 20+ episodes.

After the couple finally realize they love each other, we start to get less and less of their moments together causing me to lose the connection between them because their love for each other wasn't believable to me anymore. As I was taking in the lore and desperately waiting for the couple to yearn for each other as they did in the manhua, I was quickly met with the disappointment that two two people who had their first love, which is supposed to be exciting, other now act like two really close friends or a couple that has been together for 40 years. The show continues to drift, focusing on giving us all the lore, wrapping things up losing the core of story in the process.

Now the ending of the show is amazing and the story is very beautiful however it failed to show us that these two people love each other unconditionally. Because of that, I could not cry nor feel the sadness of them losing each other. I will compare this to lbfad's ending where it was physically painful to see the two separated because we knew how much they loved and needed each other which I was really excited to see due to the both shows having the same screenwriter. The characters death did not bother me and I was fine with them dying as I saw at least some potential in a tragic plot but something in me wanted to care but I could not. I have already detached myself from the two main leads the moment we saw less and less of their love and within that died my need for them to be together.

Overall, the story is beautiful and the lesson with it as well but it lost it's most important topic of love and empathy for the purpose of lore forgetting that it is about a man who has never been properly loved and just yearned to be in peace, to be accepted and loved. Yet whoever worked on it cared more for him to beat the boss and meet 10 other characters than they cared about making us sympathize and feel their love.

I definitely thought this could top many of my favourite dramas but I don't think I can say that more. However it is still worth watching due to it's beautiful message at the end which is why I thought this drama had more potential due to its interesting story but what can you do. You can't tell us it's a love story and barely give us love.

I love this pairing and I hope to see them again in a drama that's going to give them justice like Moonlight did.

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Unraveling the writer's trauma through his feelings and inspiration | An overly entertaining drama.

"Be Optimistic, you hear? Young man, as long as you're alive, you'll find a reason to live on." - Lu Huai An

It's been a while since the last time I watched and reviewed an Idol drama that I find it relatively challenging now to write a commentary—as I am stuck between writing objectively (which will surely make me rant) VS Subjectively (mainly base of my experience watching this drama in a fun and carefree way).

Anyways, considering that I enjoyed this drama's silly antics and clichė storyline, I will just turn a blind eye and take this as lightly as possible by writing subjectively. =)

The trajectory of the story went by surprisingly good considering how it started in a silly and ridiculous way. One thing I wanna mention is how the "10 days protection period" greatly impacted the story as it marks the end of the Female Lead's unserious and careless attempts in completing her mission inside the game. Because if the drama continued with her always getting ressurected everytime she dies for having unlimited life span then everything would have been bland and tiring in no time.

Their adventure is the part I enjoyed the most as it showcases their natural chemistry. I think it's one of the best part of the story as it allows us to see them improve their bond and overall relationship. It's just sad that it had to come to an end because they have "gone" far astray of the original storyline (when in fact, I think they're just considering their limitations in terms of # of episodes).

I would like to praise them as well on how good they unfolded the back stories, unsolved mysteries and plot twists. Although hints were given bits by bits throughout the story, the revelation of the past events didn't fell short even once. What a remarkable execution!

CG/CGI, Color scheme and Design were all incredibly done. I am out of words on how imprresive the edits were and how unnoticeable the green screens are. + The costumes looks fantastic on the artists. I don't know what is it but Yu Su Xin always looks good on whatever she wears to the point you will also notice how beautiful what she's wearing. It must have been her positive aura that's giving her clothes the extra shining spotlight and attention.

Chemistry and Synergy - Are insanely good. A bubbly Female lead partnered with a smug and savage Male lead + gentle looking and lovely 2nd leads and additional cuteness from Cui Cui made this drama light-hearted and very easy to watch. I also just want to say that I received overflowing positivity and pure happiness watching this whole drama.

Lastly, Ending - I honestly would've rated this drama a bit lower if it wasn't for the Finale—because although I truly enjoy and appreciate almost the entire duration of the drama, I have also come to a pont where I feel like something is just being conveniently put up together with the help of "It's only a virtual game" theme/set up. So I was really glad that the Ending was able to change my overall opinion and view of this drama. Thank you for giving us profound reasons when I have prejudice of this drama being shallow and lacking actual meaning. It created a huge impact to me in providing my review score for this show.

P.S. Mu Zi Qi's officious and annoying attitude turned me off so much at first, thank god Ling Miao Maio was present to make everything light, funny and entertaining.

Story - 8.5, Story started fun yet irritating because of the Male lead then at the latter half of the story it started to feel a little rushed as it was redirected to the capital for the reason of going against the books original plot (when they could've explored to developed their team work if they pushed through). Story then stabilizs in the capital, catching its phase and unraveling the story's hidden mysteries for the climax but towards the end the story started to feel shallow and random (during that Climbing through the stairs scene) if it wasn't for them revealing the hidden meaning of the books creation, this story would have crashed on the list of dramas with the most random and unsatisfying ending.

Acting/Cast - 10, I am really satisfied with the Actors/Actresses more so with their acting performances. Let me just mention as well how happy I am with the 2nd male lead. He's such a cutie. Made the story even more heartwarming and entertaining.

Music - 10, Love the soundtracks and overall music for this drama. Timing was perfect and songs are all beautiful.

Rewatch Value - 8.0, A drama I surely will not rewatch but would still recommend to people who love the casts starred in it. All of them looks charismatic and lovely in this drama. <3

Overall - 9.0, This is one of the stories that will captivate you because of its entertaining cast and tropey scenes. The drama was fun so long as you don't pursue it critically. Ending made the story make all sense—Without it, the ending would've been its donwfall.

IF you find my review helpful please let me know.

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Delightful Zone of Chuckles and Feels

This drama had me cackling most of the time. It’s a neat balance of funny, dramatic and serious. But for me, the funny outweighed most of the other things.

A modern day goody-two-shoes FL gets sucked into a fantasy web novel after leaving a stinging review. On that note, I feel I’d better be careful when I review dramas unfavourably. Who knows! Anyhoo. She gets sucked into the fantasy world but the catch is she becomes a character who is evil, selfish and cruel. Our FL is obviously quite the opposite so she has to correct the past actions of her vile version and figure out a way to return to the reality. She is asked to complete levels to come out. Love Game in Eastern Fantasy is her journey through that world, where she makes friends, meets her love, learns magic and eventually helps defeat the real evil. She is accompanied by the ML who has some dangerous secrets, his sister who is a real sweetheart, an upright, skilled magician-fighter and a cute little demon. What enfolds is a hilarious and heartwarming magical story.

The story sounds tropey. But it never takes itself too seriously; except maybe at the end. The script is tight, except a few episodes which I felt were rather too stretched. The whole Marquess and the wedding fiasco took a lot more screen space than it deserved, although the whole thing was farcically hilarious. Similarly the whole finding Mu Sheng’s mother adventure or Mu Yao and Fyu Yi’s encounter with his psycho sister could have been wrapped a bit faster. But apart from these minor flaws the story and screenplay are pretty controlled. Romance is secondary here. It’s there but it’s more like background music. It’s not the focal point.

The CGI could have been better. Some props were so obviously fake that it gave me the feel of watching an old classic. In today’s tech world, it’s an uncomfortable pill to swallow but the cast and direction more than make up for it.

Ding Yuxi has already established how talented he is. His Mu Sheng is a perfect ML with a right mix of bratty and brave. He is devoted to his sister which makes him suspicious of everybody who tries to get closer to her. He is touched by the thoughtfulness of modified version of Lin Yu but that does not make him lower his guard. She has to earn his trust through her actions. DYX has depicted Mu Sheng’s swagger and vulnerability right on the spot.

But the star of this show for me was Esther Yu. Her Miao Miao is to die for. She is hilariously goofy with high EQ. She is so relatable. Her innocence, bravery, loyalty, goofiness as well as smartness come alive under EY’s craft. Miao Miao never loses the sight of her goal of returning to the reality but in the moment of need, she is ready to sacrifice it for her friends. She is emotionally intelligent to understand Mu Sheng’s dilemma but at the same time clueless to the Marquees’s fanboy. Esther has done a fantastic job here. I simply loved her Lin Yu / Miao Miao.

The supporting cast has done pretty solid too. Zu ShunDan’s Mu Yao is kindness and sweetness personified. Yang Shi Ze’s Fu Yi is so righteous and morally upright that he is borderline boring. Shout out to little Cui Cui. So darn cute.

Direction is on target. All little touches like when Lin Yu automatically starts to kneel down with others in front of Mu Sheng make the drama what it is. Full marks there.

The final battle with the main antagonist was a bit of let down for me. I was also slightly confused by the whole Mu Sheng’s mom turning into the Resentful Woman thingie. The Resentful Woman was established as some big bogeyman from the beginning that her end was a bit underwhelming for me. Also the end of building a sky ladder was slightly stretched than necessary. But again, these were minor detractors. They did not diminish my fun in any way.

All in all, this is a fun drama. A solid green in my entertainment ledger. The humor lands, the heart is real, and despite some wobbly CGI and a few stretched arcs, the cast carries the story with charm and commitment. If you’re looking for a fantasy romp that balances laughs and feels without taking itself too seriously, this one’s an easy pick.

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Overall a very good drama but the ending…

Overall this drama was very good. The acting, Cg, costumes, music and the overall story was all great so I still rate it high even tho a part of the ending was pitiful. First of all the last episode was pretty confusing in my eyes, when Miao Miao died and turned back time and then the author thing I don’t know it just felt very messy in a sense although I guess it went with whole theme of the drama but when they came back into the real world that was when I started to like the ending. Yes it’s not a spelled out ending but I’m pretty sure they met back up after Miao Miao name was called so I would call this an happy ending for me at least. For me personally I wouldn’t be able to rewatch it since it’s so unique but I can see how people would want to since the visuals are great.

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The Journey is What Makes It Good

I really enjoyed this show. I binge-watched it over just a few days. Especially the male lead had really funny moments and he was a joy to watch. I also loved the friendship between the characters. No unnecessary love triangles or frustrating misunderstandings. It also gave me Romance between Tiger and Rose vibes all the way (funny, since they have the same male lead) and I since I really liked that drama, that kept me hooked.
That being said, I do have some criticism. In the beginning, the show dumps all the information on you (although cdramas like doing that) and I barely remembered any of it. I also think this introduction was rather unnecessary and confusing than helpful, since most of it will get addressed in the drama. A more well-integrated explanation (or better yet - showing) of the backstory would've been sufficient.
On the same note, the ending lost me a bit. Not that I don't like it, it is just confusing and I still think that it makes not much sense.
Completely aside from the plot, the acting was mostly fine (male lead being really good, second leads a little bland and stiff). What really bothered me was the female lead. Too babyish acting for my taste and quite annoying at times. It got better along the story, but it did bother me. I feel like this is just a general problem I have with most of Esther Yu's acting though (one of the main reasons why I still haven't finished Love Between Fairy and Devil). A shame really, because she can act serious and it's good.
All in all, a funny good drama. And I think for this drama, the journey is what makes it good.

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Like Miao Miao's quest that's stuck at 99%

As mentioned in my headline, my feelings for this drama are stuck at 99%, and can't exactly pick out what the missing 1% is. Let me first point out all the strengths. The cinematography, music, CGI, stunts, costumes, make-up, and plot are all top-notch!

Firstly, their acting. All the actors and actresses expressed their characters very well. However, in my case, I'm not much of a fan of Esther Yu. I mean, I'm not very fond of her acting but she possesses her unique qualities. Yes, I watched her act, but sometimes don't feel very much convinced. It's a mixed feeling, but that's not always throughout the drama. Maybe it's because of her character? On the bright side, I loved her interactions with the father figure (the county official) the most. It was so heartwarming and beautiful. Ding Yu Xi? God... Just wow. The way he portrayed Mu Sheng/Ziji was on point! What attracted me most was his sad and crying scenes. His eyes say it all. Ziji's like a misunderstood child or a defensive cat, and his portrayal is convincing. Zhu Xu Dan and Yang Shi Ze also played their roles well, too. They're so well-matched! And my DuDu, she graced the small screen with her elegance as the mirror demon. So pretty! X3

Secondly, the costumes, hairdo, and make-up suit them all, even the supporting and guest roles looked extremely stunning in their unique fashions~ Be it the demons that popped up here and there, or the main and supporting characters we see all the time, the cast is donned perfectly from head to toe. They paid attention to all intricate details like the small hair pieces and braids the multiple layers of 'Hanfu' and extra accessories for every character. EVERYONE'S BEAUTIFUL!

Third, it's about the editing department. Cheers people. It's a 10/10 from me. This is one of the best, high-tiered level editing! I fell in love with how the transitions changed, the backgrounds, and especially when the characters used their powers. It didn't feel out of place. Everything's just flawlessly done. The OSTs are breathtaking, exciting, and bittersweet in some. Fighting scenes are so cool!

Lastly, the plot. As someone who's already read the novel version, I can see they've tweaked some, which I think is much better in terms of storytelling. I started reading the Manhua first actually, but the updates were SUPER SLOW! Hence, changed to the novel version. To be honest, the translations were bad so I couldn't make out much of the story back then but I do remember they changed several parts like where (1) Mu Sheng's dreams of Miao Miao (almost every time he sleeps X3 It was quite a torture for him in the novel & manhua), (2) Miao Miao's wedding (I'm not sure but I think there was no character named Zhao Ruo Shi in the original versions; Miao Miao was under the influence of the bracelet given by Mu Sheng), (3) the temple part (manhua & novel plot is about offering a bride or something, and both Mu Yao and Miao Miao fell victim. It happened quite early and MuSheng saved MuYao first, left Miao Miao to fend for herself, but came back for her. He still doesn't trust her yet when this happened), and etc. However, the storyline in the drama makes much more sense as an adaptation. The final ending scene reminds me of "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo", but with a more positive and hopeful feeling.

To sum up, I think the remaining 1% lies in my comparison between the drama version and the original novel & manhua versions. Afterall, it's best to enjoy them as stand-alone works. Mix them up? You won't feel as content as you'd thought. They shine in their own right and I'd say LGIEF is a masterpiece with great potential.

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A wonderful and hilarious adventure with lovable characters

Wow, what a journey! This drama was a breath of fresh air. It was hilarious and heartfelt and wonderful. The fantasy elements and world building were superb, the characters were so lively and I cared so deeply for them. I really, really loved this drama and the FL was so cute and funny, I really liked her and she was the perfect cast. As were the rest of the main characters too, they were perfect. This story was well written and I loved it, but it drag a little towards the end and took a bit more time to finish than the first 20 or so episodes which I absolutely flew through because I could not stop watching. Be sure to give this drama a chance if you like fantasy and demons, enemies to loversesque relationships (although not quite enemies, just a bit of the dynamic) and found family!

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Refreshing, unique, heartwarming fantasy with strong friendships - WORTH the watch!!

This is one of the best cdramas I have ever watched and definitely my personal favourite from 2024.

I just want to take a moment to appreciate the music - this show has one of the BEST OST soundtracks and BGM pairings I have ever seen in the history of cdramas, and I am not exaggerating. The only other show that made me feel this way about their OST lineup is Love Between Fairy and Devil - only these 2 shows have blown me away when it comes to their OSTs. Every scene is paired so perfectly with the apt OST and the way the music heightens the emotional impact of the scene, be it tension or suspense or love or romance or action or sorrow or heartbreak... every single scene was done so well and the OST truly was the icing on the cake. I have no complaints about this show's OST lineup - every single song is PERFECT. Absolute perfection.

I also want to comment on the CGI - it is done so well, it's one of the best CGI works I've seen so far. The CGI was done beautifully and it is evident that a lot of budget and effort went into this show - it really makes you feel like you’re in a video game with some of the graphics. The costume and styling was also done insanely well, I LOVED every single one of the FL and ML's looks, and the same goes for the 2nd leads. I truly think this is Esther's prettiest role and Ryan's finest role. The face cards really go crazy I cannot stress this enough - you could 100% just watch the show for their visuals and not be disappointed in the slightest.

As for the storyline, I do think that the plot gets pretty messy from ep26 onwards. Arguably, ep21-32 felt pretty underwhelming in comparison to ep1-20, because that is when the relationship progression kind of stops and the focus now shifts to moving the plot forward. It’s a solid plotline with a well-executed theme of self-discovery and self-love, of duty and sacrifice. I definitely enjoyed ep1-20 a LOT more than the second half of the show, because the first half was highly focused on the romance while the plot was more of a background action, and this was reversed in the second half as the romance took a backseat. The plot did feel pretty rushed in the last 4-5 episodes, and it can get confusing, but you’ll have to push through it to the end because I really did enjoy the ending. I was pretty disappointed with the last couple of minutes of the last episode, but I do understand that this was the best they could do in light of China's censorship laws, so it's just a pity because there was great potential for a more satisfying ending. I honestly still really loved the ending. I think they did a WONDERFUL job tying the novel world to the real world, and comparing this to other time travel or novel travelling shows, I think this show did the best job in tying the two realms together. There's a number of instances in which they did very well with the symbolism and foreshadowing, especially callbacks to the real world with items/scenes in the novel world, which increases the rewatch value of the show because you'd go back and actually be on active lookout for these details that you're likely to overlook during your first watch. I did not see it coming at all (ie. how they linked the two worlds in such detail) and I really appreciate it because you can tell a lot of thought and work went into linking them together and it added to the emotional weight of the ending - I pretty much sobbed throughout the entire last 2 episodes LOL. It's not just touching on the romance level but it’s also incredibly heartwrenching on an individual level as they really polish the theme of self-discovery and self-love and the journey it takes one to get there.

The main focus of this show is the leads and the 2nd leads, plus an adorable little kid named CuiCui who joins their group. The group of 5 travel as the "4 bamboo masters", and the show is very much centred around developing their friendship and relationship(s). This is one of the most solid friendgroups I have seen in shows, in which the show really emphasises the love and care and bond between all 5 of them - no one is and can be left behind, and they demonstrate this through multiple instances in which they fight for a particular person in the group who is facing a crisis etc. They have a very cute and heartwarming dynamic and it is very touching to see them grow so close together. The 2nd leads are cute together, and I do think they’re both very strong and capable and worthy characters, though I do think the 2nd ML is not as developed as the 2nd FL and there was certainly good potential for further character development (or more like focus? because he's honestly pretty developed already but he deserved a little more focus in the show in which his character could be more outlined and we could see why he is the way he is instead of just showing his noble acts of heroism etc. so his character felt more flat than the rest which was a missed opportunity for sure).

One thing I love about this show is that there’s no love triangles! I mean yes, there was a time where another guy fell for the FL and another girl fell for the 2nd ML, but I wouldn’t really consider that a love triangle since it’s clear that the FL and the 2nd ML never wavered in their own feelings for the ML and the 2nd FL respectively. So even though the scenes were a little annoying to watch because I want to see more of the leads together, not with this random character poking their nose into it, they were mostly just hilarious because we got to see some jealousy scenes - and there wasn’t any toxic, possessive jealousy, only protective and amusing.

Another thing about this show is it’s really funny.. like it’s HILARIOUS in some parts I actually was so thoroughly entertained. There wasn’t a single moment in which I was bored watching this show - in fact, I was entirely hooked from the FIRST episode, which is so so so rare for me because I tend to get bored easily and it usually takes at least 2-3 episodes for me to want to continue watching immediately instead of waiting for a couple of days before getting back to it, or skipping over certain parts. For this show, I started ep2 the minute I finished watching ep1, and I did not use the skip button ONCE throughout the WHOLE show - I was HOOKED! It’s really a very entertaining watch and I enjoyed myself so much, the viewing experience was awesome.

Now I’m finally going to talk about my FAVOURITE part of the show... which would be the chemistry between Esther and Ryan, as well as the relationship arc and progression between the leads. The enemies to lovers, forced proximity, he fell first and he fell harder trope is soooo satisfying to watch and executed brilliantly. Watching the leads fall for each other was so rewarding and I was kicking my feet squealing the entire time! The tension, the chemistry, the banter... absolutely top-tier, excellent, life-changing. The leads have a wonderful and adorable dynamic in which there’s a lot of playful banter and teasing, and they are also one of my favourite on-screen couples because you can really see that they love each other SO MUCH, and you’re also able to understand WHY they’re so in love with each other. It isn’t sudden and an out-of-nowhere love, it’s sort of a semi-slow burn. However, if you’re looking for a steamy passionate romance with lots of kiss scenes, this isn’t for you. There are 0 kiss scenes between the leads (though there are 2 between the 2nd leads), and the most we get is a forehead kiss (but this was so tender, so heartbreakingly gentle and careful, I honestly prefer this to an actual kiss) and a number of embraces, but personally I loved it because it heightens the purity and sincerity of their love for each other, and you really feel the depth and weight of their love even without an insane amount of skinship or kiss scenes. Their love is really pure and sincere and genuine and wholesome and REAL, I just love it so much, it’ll REALLY touch your heart.

And the best part of this show is, without any doubt, Esther and Ryan absolutely NAILING their roles. They truly embodied their characters and they brought them to life, they gave them SOUL and I was beyond impressed. I’ve been a fan of Esther for a while, and this is honestly my favourite work of hers, second ONLY to Love Between Fairy and Devil - though when it comes to acting, I think she did a better acting job in LGIEF, mostly because she’s more experienced as an actor now. Esther was incredible as Miaomiao and I do think it's largely also because this character archetype is very much entirely in her comfort zone, she's truly born to play this kind of cute yet intelligent, witty, and hilarious role. She's really able to embody the adorable persona of the FL and yet is also able to convey the level of wit and intelligence needed - overall, down to her smallest mannerisms, she's able to imbue the character with so much humour and energy, giving her an adorable persona without overloading the cuteness and making the character cringy. You'll laugh along with the character and enjoy watching her figure things out, on a lighthearted note, and on a deeper, more emotional level, she's also able to bring out the depth and sincerity and authenticity of the character's heightened emotions - her crying scenes are truly gutting to hear and to watch. She WAS Ling Miaomiao, and the character really felt like she had a soul, she felt very much real. It's even more impressive seeing as she basically played 4 different characters in the span of 1 show, and she nailed each and every one. Esther was incredible in this role and I would venture to say that this is her best acting job to date - I'm really looking forward to seeing more of her work!

This show also sent me, like many others, down the Ryan Ding rabbit hole - he’s truly one of the most talented actors out there and I am so happy that he’s finally getting the recognition he so deserves. He’s a phenomenal actor and I’ve watched so many of his shows - he always does such an incredibly awesome job and this role is actually probably his best role to date, in terms of styling AND acting. This was very much an acting breakthrough for him and though he’s definitely always been good (if you watch his other, older works, he absolutely eats and delivers every time), his acting here was life-changing. He was truly able to master the role of Mu Sheng by bringing him not just to life but he basically breathed a part of himself into that role, I can’t even describe it, he WAS Mu Sheng, and Mu Sheng is him. You can so clearly tell that he put in so so so much work into the role and he left a part of himself with the character. I personally find that Ryan does best in these "black lotus" kind of roles, where his character is slightly morally ambiguous and sort of leaning towards the anti-hero characterisation? He manages to strike the balance between good and not evil per se, but simply the morally grey area very well, he is able to bring out ALL the nuances of the character and really does an excellent job of making you empathise with the character, understand his choices and decisions, and fall in love with the character too. His acting was phenomenal, from the dialogue to the smallest mannerisms, be it the quirk of a brow or the swinging of his ponytail, every little detail is perfected and embodied in the role of the character and I was truly so impressed. He LIVED the character, he wasn’t just acting. I also think that Ryan is one of the best actors out there when it comes to eye acting - he gives them so much life and soul through his gaze, you can really feel the ache of the sorrow, the heartbreak, the tenderness of love, the yearning, the bone-gutting pain, the hope, the hopeless, everything. EVERYTHING is conveyed through his gaze and I was just so blown away, you can’t help feeling with him. His crying scenes were also out of this world, I’ve only ever felt this emotion during Dylan's crying scene(s) in Love Between Fairy and Devil (though LBFAD was definitely more intense, context-wise) - Ryan really made me feel his pain, his sorrow, his helplessness, his anger, EVERYTHING. He is truly so talented and so good at bringing out every inch of emotion, every nuance. His microexpressions and attention to detail in his acting just elevates his acting and brings it to a whole new level. This show really was his best work yet and I am so looking forward to seeing him in more of these black lotus roles in particular!

And the last thing - their chemistry. Esther and Ryan have insanely good, and very natural, chemistry. Their interactions feel so authentic, so genuine, and so real, so natural and so easy. Nothing feels even remotely scripted, forced, or out of place. I think this is also in part due to both of their natural talent and ability to add ad-libs and tweak scenes to really elevate it and heighten the emotion and natural flow of the scene. Esther and Ryan work so well together, and they bounce off of each other’s energy so brilliantly, it really heightens the viewing experience as you watch the characters fall in love with each other. If you don’t watch this show for anything else, watch it for the two of them absolutely EMBODYING their roles AND serving everything as a couple together.

For many, the ending might be unsatisfactory in comparison to the intense emotional journey the characters took to get here. So I do recommend watching Moonlight after completing this show! It’s a very cute modern cdrama starring Esther and Ryan as the leads, and the 2nd ML in LGIEF is actually also the 2nd ML in Moonlight, and I absolutely ADORE the bromance dynamic between him and Ryan in Moonlight LOL, it feels like what we should’ve seen but didn’t get to see in LGIEF. Esther and Ryan also have a very cute dynamic in Moonlight, and in many ways a lot of things are similar because Moonlight revolves around novels too since Ryan is a famous author and Esther is his editor. There are also many unintentional references between both shows (eg. the bunny-shaped apple) and it just feels very much fated. Moonlight really felt like a healing balm after LGIEF and it gave me the closure I needed.

For more of Esther's shows, I strongly strongly recommend Love Between Fairy and Devil, there are a couple of similarities between the shows and I’ve done a review on LBFAD too! For more of Ryan's shows, I really recommend The Romance of Tiger and Rose because it’s also a fall-into-novel type of show and it’s pretty similar to LGIEF in that aspect. I also recommend Melody of Golden Age and Love You Seven Times if you’re into Ryan's styling in LGIEF because they’re pretty similar, though I don’t think anything can top his styling in LGIEF LOL.

Overall, this show is worth the watch. For the romance, the chemistry, the entertainment, the humour, and the friendship. Not forgetting the journey/message of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-love too. A beautifully executed show and wonderfully told story with excellent cast members who truly breathed life into the characters, elevated by the phenomenal OST lineup and BGM pairings. Personally, it’s a 10/10 for me, but a more objective rating would probably land this show in the 9/10 range.

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the game is progress

First impressions: This is reminding me of A Dream within a Dream (transported into novel w/ cheesy plot, death loop--sorta) mixed with Till the End of the Moon (cold ml, warm fl lead replaced w/ cold fl, amazing costuming/makeup, flashy special effects). Also kinda weird that fl shares the same name as me buut oh well

TLDR; Love the comedy in this show, and there's clear chemistry between the couples. Story is a little spotty at times, but overall not too bad. Like what is up with obsessive sibling relationships lmaoo. I like the premise of the story, which is to trust the people you surround yourself w/, so you don't have to carry all the burden by yourself. Acting is phenomenal, and music is also really good. I think this is a one-and-done for me bc it's kinda long and idk I don't usually rewatch shows..but it was quite enjoyable.

Story: Every side character is loveable, and you feel for them when they don't get their way, and you feel conflicted bc you want the main leads to win but the other characters are just as good but just came at the wrong time. Misunderstandings, misunderstandings..sigh...they happen, but it was redeemable in the end, although I wouldn't preferred avoiding the whole debacle in the first place but whatever. I guess they did it for the purposes of what the moral of the story was about. The last arc was definitely rushed, which is fine ig since it's like equivalent to battling a gauntlet in a game--probably not a lot of important story going on there. The ending itself is really sweet, though and not rushed.

Acting/Cast: Honestly, I had doubts abt fl's acting bc she kinda be acting childish, but it wasn't annoying. I love the facial expressions though, very funny. All the facial expressions are very expressive. Whoever did the makeup and costuming did amazing btw. I especially loved all of MM's outfits and the demon outfits were arguably even better.

Music: The songs have both a duet version, and solo versions, which sync w/ which characters are on screen. So when it's just one person, it carries more meaning. Background music was also good as well.

Rewatch value: It was really good while it lasted though, but I don't think it's worth a rewatch imo.

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