Best plot and acting
Personally read the book, and have to say they did a great job in adapting the book, with the parts changed (knowing Chinese censorship). The acting was phenomenal. I have always loved Ding Yuxi but I think Musheng is a truly breakout and memorable role for him. He has the ability to portray the most complex of emotions, and what's most amazing is that you will be able to see all these myriad of emotions clearly as an audience. Esther Yu was also the perfect cast for the role, she was able to portray the cuteness naturally. Last thing, great kudos to the director and the team, many scenes were a cinematic masterpiece.Was this review helpful to you?
The second season of the Romance of Tiger and Rose we never thought we would get
you can't see this drama without thinking of the famous the Romance of Tiger and Rose. But a remake of this classic ? Of course it works !! The grumpy Han Shuo is now the grumpy Mu Sheng, and the third princess is now Lin Yu, the wicked daughter of an official.If you liked the romance of Tiger and Rose you'll like this drama. You don't get bored, on the contrary, this new story is fresh and Ester Yu manages to create a touching and cute character. As usual, the production is flawless and plot keeps you interested.
Was this review helpful to you?
weak narrative
"Love Game in Eastern Fantasy" had an intriguing concept that initially caught my attention, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver on its promise. The show attempts to blend romance with elements of Eastern fantasy, but the execution feels lackluster and disjointed.
The characters are one-dimensional and often rely on clichés, making it hard to connect with them on any meaningful level. I found myself struggling to care about their relationships, as the writing didn't provide enough depth or development.
The pacing was also a major issue; the plot felt rushed at times, jumping from one event to another without proper buildup. This left me feeling confused and unsatisfied with the story progression.
Visually, the show had some appealing moments, but it wasn't enough to compensate for the weak narrative. The fantasy elements felt underdeveloped and didn't add much to the overall experience.
In summary, "Love Game in Eastern Fantasy" is a disappointing watch that fails to capitalize on its interesting premise. I would rate it a 3/10, as it left me wanting more substance and engagement.
Was this review helpful to you?
Feels like we've seen something like this before???
Coming directly to the point, the gist of the PLOT we've already seen or heard of before. While the plot may seem familiar, the way it's portrayed is fresh and captivating. The magical spells and the intense battles between Demon Catchers and Demons are particularly engaging. The performances, especially by Ding Yu Xi and Esther Yu, really stand out. Their acting is one of the main reasons I kept watching the drama, and they certainly didn’t disappoint. Though I initially wished they had used the actors' original voices, I eventually got used to it and still found the experience enjoyable.Esther Yu’s portrayal of "cute" moments doesn’t always align with the situation, but she somehow manages to make it work in a way that only she can. Her ability to balance light-heartedness with intense emotional scenes is truly impressive. She continues to surprise me, especially with the heart-wrenching ending of Episode 7. Both Ding Yu Xi and Esther Yu completely stole my heart with their performances in that episode.
At first, I wasn’t fond of the second couple, but once their backstory unfolded, I grew to like them a lot. Ah Jie, in particular, left a lasting impression—especially the scene where she protects Ah Sheng from Fu Yi’s master’s sword. The fight scenes and visuals were well-executed, and I was hooked. Initially, I thought this would just be another typical drama, but it was the "Moonlight Couple" (Ding Yu Xi and Esther Yu) that kept me watching. As the story progressed, I found myself more and more invested.
One character that truly stood out to me was Roushi. Despite his limited screen time, he brought a sense of charm and sincerity that was hard to ignore. His unwavering determination, honesty, and innocence made him a standout character. It’s a shame that neither the princess nor Miaomiao could end up with him—I really hope he finds happiness in the future.
Ratings:
Story: 9.5/10 (The plot isn’t entirely unique, hence the slight deduction)
Acting: 9.5/10 (The score goes entirely to Ding Yu Xi and Esther Yu; the supporting cast could’ve done more)
Music: 9/10 (The OST fits the drama well, but it hasn’t stuck with me enough)
Rewatch Value: 9/10 (Not a drama I’d rewatch on repeat, but still highly enjoyable)
PS - This is not your average wuxia drama—it has a solid and engaging storyline that’s worth watching!
Was this review helpful to you?
The Most Handsome Mu Sheng
I will miss my beloved Mu Sheng / Mu Ziqi after finishing this series. He is so gorgeous in this series. While I have no idea why people suddenly downvote Love Game in Eastern Fantasy and even make bad reviews, giving rating score as low as 1, I always stay positive, sending positivity to everyone, sending love to old fans and new fans that this series deserves more love and more positive reviews. I know a lot of people worried about the ending, while I don't. I tell you all: don't worry about the ending, just watch this amazing series with open mind. If you are brave enough to watch FoF, even watch Romeo and Juliet, why you are afraid to watch LGIEF. Without spoiling anything, I can tell you all that this is a fun and cheerful drama so need to be afraid and just watch it. Don't forget to forget to give a good rating, if possible give it a 10 and then share it to good people that can also give a 10 score because only kind hearted and good people deserve this beautiful series. The haters and antis never deserve this series. The story is perfect from start till beginning, it is a solid story. If you want to get more stories you can watch Shining Stars after finishing this series. The acting and cast is perfect: Ding Yuxi, Esther Yu, Bambi Zhu, Yang Shi Ze are the perfect casts for our beloved four bamboo masters. Supporting cast also do well. The demons are beautiful and handsome. The music is beautiful. I love when the main casts and supporting casts participated to sing Send to the Bright Moon. Ding Yuxi and Esther Yu also lent their beautiful vocals for the OSTs. The songs become my regular playlist on my spotify. Regarding rewatch value, of course it is a 10. I have watched LGIEF seventh times. Overall my score of course a solid 10. This series deserves more love from you, beautiful and good guys out there, so please watch and give a 10 just like me. To whoever give a 10 score, May the angels protect you and good fortune smile upon you.Was this review helpful to you?
A perfect 10 from Me!
I don't usually write a review, but seeing so many haters trying to downvote this beautiful drama so I write how I feel when I first watch it and my very honest opinion.Story: It's the first time I watch Xuanhuan genre, so I feel this is like a new genre for me. And Guess What: I LOVE IT AT FIRST SIGHT.
Acting/cast: With Ding Yuxi, the multitalented star here, of course it is perfect. I can feel his emotion just looking at his eyes. And bonus points, he is so handsome as Mu Sheng.
Music: The OSTs are beautiful. From the cheerful Ji Ming Yue (Send it to the Bright Moon) which is originally Sing' song to Stare Intently (especially Ding Yuxi's version).
Rewatch value: As I write this review, this is my fourth time watching it. I love the story, the CGI. For me it's perfect
Overall: Of course it is a solid 10. If possible I will give it 100.
Please watch it guys, ignore the haters and bad reviewers, follow good reviewers just like me and give this series a perfect 10.
Was this review helpful to you?
LOVE RYAN IN EASTERN FANTASY
This is my third Ryan Ding’s drama, and I love it so much. This is by far the best Ryan Ding’s drama (I have only watched 3 of his drama so far). Ryan Ding is a super MULTI talented actor. I just knew he can also sing and dance when I watch the OST of this drama. I really love Ryan and Esther chemistry as a couple in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy. Once again, I always adore how beautiful Ryan is with white hair. And I think Ryan is perfect as a demon character. He becomes the most attractive demon ever. I hope I can see more Ryan as a demon with white hair in the futureStory: 10/10
Acting/Cast: 10/10
Music: 10/10
Rewatch Value: 10/10
Overall: 10/10 because I Love Game in Eastern Fantasy
Was this review helpful to you?
Ending felt rushed and chaotic
Feb 2025Lots of colourful varied characters, sub plots, and slow burn romance. Also beautiful sets, costumes and cast, which are a standard of costume fantasy C-dramas.
I enjoyed this more than I didn't. Whilst the FL character unfortunately spoke with the usual childish voice, her personality after ep.1, thankfully, was generally anything but. Yes, she had a child-like fascination and bubbly excitement for things, but she also often had a very mature and thoughtful outlook, which kept her the right side of my "you irritate me to death" line! 😅
The early episodes set scenes, build the main characters, and lay the story's foundations. There are lots of vengeful spirits and demons for the hunters to round up, once the main small group of characters eventually go off in search of a top demon, called The Resentful Woman.
Throughout the story, Miaomiao, the character who has been sucked into her favourite author's latest novel, as the villainous main supporting character, has to try and stay alive. At the same time, she has to complete tasks set by the novel's 'system', and fit into the storyline, but she also wants to change her character to a good one whilst doing so.
All the MCs carry guilt of some kind, and all find themselves becoming more and more connected to the demon they are pursuing, to save the 'world'. There are some very poignant scenes, and I especially liked Mu Sheng's back story.
It did linger far too much in certain parts, and in comparison to the build-up, I found the closing episode very rushed and chaotic.
I honestly just didn't get some aspects, at the end, at all! The twist was just a bit too much so.
However, the cast was good, I liked a lot of the characters, and it was very funny at times (especially the character Marquis Qing Yi).
The music was mixed, but I disliked some of the overpowering electric guitar riffs, which just didn't fit for me.
Not disappointed I watched it, but not as good as some I've seen recently, mainly due to the previously mentioned ending,
Was this review helpful to you?
Here for the leads.
I first witnessed Yu Shu Xin and Ding Yuxi's undeniable and sizzling chemistry in the cdrama Moonlight. So when I found out they were working together again, I knew immediately I would be watching. Most of this drama didn’t click with me but they make it work.I found the resolution super compelling and I would have love to see more of it. Still, I understand that’s another story for another time, and what we saw it’s what we needed to know. C’est la vie.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not happy with the ending
The beginning of the drama might feel boring because it seems fake and disconnected from the script. Initially, it comes across as a fairy tale, more suitable for children under 15. However, things take a turn around the 10th episode when they accept her into their team to capture the devil. From this point, the story becomes more engaging. It starts to feel realistic when her memories begin to fade, adding depth to the plot.From that moment until the final scene, the drama is captivating. Even the secret, though guessable, adds an element of intrigue. As a viewer, you might predict the twist, but it will still surprise you.
My only issue with the writer is the lack of a subplot showing their reunion. A proper closure would have made the story more satisfying.
Because of the unsatisfactory ending, I wouldn’t recommend watching it. It feels like a waste of time after investing so much in the drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
1This review may contain spoilers
More than a romance, show is about ML's quest of self-love, confidence & finally his 'rebirth'
Firstly, I've been hooked from the very start. FL being sucked into a game, the need to complete missions to go back to the real world , the enemies turn lovers trope... that was a fun premise then came the Imperial Capital arc and my enjoyment suddenly took a nosedive...don't get me wrong, I still liked it very much but the lack of screentime of our leads and the way they stopped developping their romance put a damper on my excitement.While I think the ending message is quite beautiful and meaningful, I still regret that the romance literally took a back seat in the second half of the drama making their relationship lose all spark after some time. Why branding it as romance as a main theme when you're not delivering on that promise? Not that my disappointment solely stems from it but it was such a bummer in the end. Chemistry has been so perfectly built in the beginning with all the banters, teasing, intense stares, tension , giving me all the feels/butterflies which is needed for a good romance and suddenly you decide to throw all that development away? Are you for real? Where is the pay-off here? I know kisses aren't always needed in dramas (I didn't mind it in Snowy Nights for example because drama main theme was 'missed opportunities', leads never got to confess to each other or even kiss because they were bound by guilt, duties and grief) but here I feel it could have added a beautiful touch to their reunion after the angst part for instance. Oh well. it is what is. First part was all kind of awesome and really addictive then show totally faltered in second half wasting time on uninteresting subplots (reducing the main leads screentime)
That comment above was my primary/raw impression (yeah I was pretty pissed)
Then after calming down a bit, I've come to the conclusion we've been fooled into thinking it was a romance when in fact it wasn't. Plot is merely about a long 'letter' written by our hero/ML expressing his gratitude/love for his long time crush/muse for being the light that brighten up his darkest days.It was thanks to her he could move forward and also find the courage to undergo surgery. She is his savior, his sun, his world. He just wants to let her know how much she means to him.
Thing is that his self-acceptance and courage come from the admiration he had for the FL while in middle school. They were classmates but never interacted with each other at that time, I dare say she probably didn't even notice him. He was just silently observing her from afar, lacking the confidence to approach her and missing the chance to convey his inner feelings (due to the bullying incident+school transfer)
It was his one-sided crush all along and maybe the reason why we didn't get a kiss in the end? ...they're basically strangers in real world, he never confessed to her hence it would be weird for them to smooch in the game I guess?? Does it make sense? haha (or is it an excuse to make me feel better? Maybe lol)
And even though Miao Miao is one of his biggest fan, she only admires his work (at least for now), she never met him after all or at least she's not aware he's her secret admirer from middle school.
I have so much to say about the parallels between the two worlds and on how she ended up stuck in the game but it would be so longgggggggggggggggggg
In a nutshell, her transmigration into the game might be due to the strong desire of the ML to convey his hidden feelings, he wanted her to understand in which state of mind he was when he wrote that first novel and see his true self. Her feedbacks definitely encouraged him to change the story into a happy ending. That first novel is like the reflection of the start of their story that ended badly and with regrets...it's like he's giving himself and her a chance to make things right this time around, an opportunity to get to know each other and create together that HE he's been yearning for.
The revision of that first novel will serve as a catalyst to the final acceptance of himself and his rebirth putting all his past grievances/hardships behind and finally be able to be with the girl he likes (properly confessing to her in real world too)
Oh well,I will stop here because imagination is running way too wild, I don't think I make sense anymore (sorry for rambling)
IMHO that's an open ending leaning on a future HE (this is just the beginning, the rest is up to our imagination or you can also watch 'Moonlight' which can pretty serve as a sequel lol, plenty of parallels in this one. Highly recommended!! )
I know many people were disappointed/angry after watching the final scene but all I could think of while watching it is that it reminded me of the song 'Once upon a Dream', it funnily fits the scene lmfao
'I know you I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam
And I know it's true that visions are seldom what they seem
But if I know you, I know what you'll do, you'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream' lalalalaa (ok I totally lost it here)
She woke up from a long dream not remembering the face of his beloved then BAM he appears before her, she's stunned (hinting than her memories have returned) then smile and the END. (why not showing his face ffs? *still mad*
Acting:
Almost flawless. Ding Yunxi is the real MVP here (once again), he nails every scenes he's in effortlessly. I knew after MOGA I wouldn't be able to take my eyes off of him...I swear, man has betwitched me body and soul! And the way he's styled in this series is just chef's kiss *someone deserves a raise* His face card is insane and his acting is really good! Give him more gritty works or better scripts because boy he deserves it!
Esther Yu is delightful as the bubbly and sassy Miao Miao (much like her rl persona), she excels in those kind of roles (the cutesy ones). She's unfairly receiving criticism for her voice to the point some are even skipping her works just for that reason alone...that's a shame imo...ok, I won't lie, the first time I watched her, it also turned me off but with time, I got used to it and now think it makes her rather unique+ Industry/Experts seem to disagree with the haters because she's one of the rare actresses who is allowed to dub herself..'My Journey to You' proved she can modulate her voice when the role demands it.
Yang Shi Ze's role being very limited, he didn't have much to do but he did well with what he was given...
Zhu Xu Dan is a nice addition to the quartet...she did a commendable job as well.
I really love our Bamboo squad and the chemistry between our leads was sizzling in the beginning, kinda fizzled out in second half unfortunately...I also really like Cui Cui's character, he was such a cutiepie... like Miao Miao,I wanted to pinch his cheeks so badly xD *so squishy* Kudos to Lu Yu Hao *claps*
OST was good. I'm glad Ding Yuxi got to sing one of the ost, totally in love with his voice.
Rewatching value- Need more time for that but why not? (there will probably come a time where I will have nothing to watch with Ding Yuxi xD)
Review is in progress.....
Was this review helpful to you?
One of the best c-dramas in this genre released this year
This drama started out strong and ended strong and that is something we rarely get to see these days.PROS:
1. Realistic reactions to unrealistic situations
2. Great world building
3. Great acting
4. Amazing chemistry (despite the lack of skinship)
5. unique backstories to all characters
6. Amazingg ost
CONS:
1. I felt like the ending could have been less rushed? Even though I loved the ending I wish they gave us a lot more time to process everything
2. The fantasy - reality connection didn't really make sense....The logic behind it was completely left open ended (or un-logical) and I was really interested to see how she transmigrated there
3. lin fuyi felt very unnecessary: I dont know if this is a personal bias but I felt like his acting was lacking compared to his co-stars
Overall I really loved the drama and the cons were very insignificant compared to the pros and this drama is definetely something memorable...I would definitely recommend that you watch this provided skinship (or lack of it) is not a deal breaker (there were only 1-2 kiss scenes and that too wasn't in reality *sigh* )......The plot is not very unique but very well executed and the main cast did a great job and all supporting cast had their own stories to tell...
Was this review helpful to you?
