xianxia of the year!
i usually don’t write lengthy reviews but this show is too good for me to not i fear. i am so happy i gave wdbtd a chance. this is the first ongoing drama i’ve watched that didn’t bore me by the end. i started it with not many expectations, but its easily made it to my top favorite dramas of all time (it was that good idgaf). the cgi was definitely a little silly at times, but once you get past it this show is so enjoyable. i also think they did a great job depicting heavier topics while not straying from the comedic tone of the show.wang yinglu as tingyan has moved me. tingyan is definitely the heart of the show and yinglu was so perfect for this role. she was great in comedic scenes and even more poignant in sad scenes. i wish her voice wasnt dubbed over because i think it would’ve been a great match but oh well.
chen feiyu was the perfect sima jiao. i loved seeing jiao gradually open up and be just as silly as tingyan. it was honestly so refreshing to see how tingyan’s love changed him.
the main thing i loved about wdbtd was the communication between the leads. they never had any severe misunderstandings and the one real conflict they had was resolved within an ep. the chemistry between yinglu and feiyu is absolutely insane. they did an outstanding job portraying jiaoyan’s relationship and intimate scenes. every scene between the two felt so natural and healing, truly just two people head over heels for one another.
this is a drama i know i will be rewatching often. im so happy i stumbled onto it. #my xianxia of the year idgaf
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Dropped at 19, story not worth the hype
I dont get it why this drama get above 8.5 ratings?? I mean, the story or plot isnt that great, it's a mess with no backstory suddenly the fl entered the other world? Like why would she trapped there? Who is the original tingyan( ik shes from demonic realm but what is her relation? ) What is the factor the FL end up get into the ori tingyan? And then, she was just got into the realm, but the character didnt show any awkwardness to adapt, like how she can continue her life as usual, not complaining to go back?Then the story progress, okay la i keep on watching coz at this time is quite entertaining. Got to know the backstory of sima jiao and his revenge, then the 2 leads got in loves. The chemistry between the leads is okay (but not that gr8) , romance part is okay, and i think that part is the only that save this drama coz plenty of kiss scene and intimate scene. However, I watched this with frustation towards the characters of tingyan and the snake, they are so stupid. The snake: I imagine the character to be bold, ruthless and smart as he is the companion/ disciple of sima jiao, should be he is the one who is more protective to him, but instead he seek for another master?? The one who want to kill ur master on top of that??! Like u have been accompanying ur master for like hundred yrs, but cannot sense danger, not cautios towards ppl around him aiya wth (i tot he should be like buqio, ji bozai companion in LITC)
And the FL why la she not smart at all??? Like i got it u are pure, innocent, not exposed to killing/ruthless activity, but u are in another world rn where the ppl are all aiming to kill u women! At least learn how to defend urself, and not make trouble for the ML to save u while he is in the middle to achieve his plan.
#And i donno la maybe i watch this with my bias towards LnP, cause every bit of arthur chen's acting here remind me of lixun 😭, like his cold, his smirk, his smile, his gaze ahhh i can't.....
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I'm sorry but I didn't like it
Started this with high expectations considering how people were raving about it and some even rewatched it 7x. First 10 episodes were good but went downhill from there. The reason I would continue to watch this is solely because of Arthur Chen. He was the only one carrying the whole drama. Female lead was such a weak character and I disliked her. While watching in Youku, I could read comments about her and some people liked her and some people didn't. The whole story was too long and just felt dragging. Found myself fastforwarding and cringing from some too-sweet scenes where ML just goes out of his original character and becomes the loveydovey loser dude. Sorry but I dropped it.Was this review helpful to you?
Three Lifetimes, One Exhausted Viewer
Modern day office drone Zou Yan is just trying to survive her daily grind when fate decides to clock her out and clock her into another world. She wakes up in a cultivation realm as Liao Ting Yan, a disciple of the Qinggutian Sect, and before she can even process her new employee benefits, she is assigned to serve the infamous Grandmaster Sima Jiao. He is a powerful cultivator who has been sealed inside a mountain for 500 years, simmering in isolation and rage. Rumor has it he is cruel, volatile, and bent on revenge. What Liao Ting Yan does not know is that her original identity in this world is a demonic assassin sent to kill him. What Sima Jiao does not expect is that the “assassin” now in front of him has zero ambition, zero malice, and an almost comical lack of desire. Thus begins an unlikely romance between a villainous immortal with a burning past and a healing type slacker who simply wants to nap, eat, and vibe her way through destiny.Right from the start, this drama comes in hot. Humor, tension, and one extremely charismatic male lead set the tone early on. Yes, the first few episodes are heavy on information dumping, but oddly enough, I was never bored. The world building felt dense yet intriguing, like being handed a thick fantasy novel and realizing you actually want to read the footnotes. Once we dive into Sima Jiao’s past, the emotional core of the story ignites, and what follows is a romance that is sweet, heart fluttering, and deliciously tension filled.
Sima Jiao is the definition of powerful and notorious. As the last known member of the Jiao clan and the only one capable of containing the Spiritual Fire, his presence alone commands respect. He is said to have a cruel heart and a fiery temper, and on the surface, he does appear cold, arrogant, and edged with danger. But peel back that icy exterior and you find a man who endured childhood torture, blood drains, and five centuries of imprisonment. No wonder he is grumpy. Behind the mask of a ruthless killer is someone painfully human and surprisingly kind. I have a soft spot for tragic men, and Sima Jiao walked straight into that soft spot and set up permanent residence. Arthur Chen, also known as Chen Fei Yu, absolutely devours this role. His deep voice, controlled expressions, and imposing figure make Sima Jiao’s dark allure almost unfair. Every glance feels intentional. Every flicker of emotion hits. He turns Sima Jiao into one of those iconic characters you remember long after the drama ends.
Then we have Liao Ting Yan, or rather Zou Yan inside Liao Ting Yan. As a modern soul dropped into a high stakes cultivation world, she is hilariously relatable. Instead of plotting revenge or seizing power, she compares serving a murderous immortal to working a nine to five job. Honestly, same energy. Wang Ying Lu nails the modern girl trapped in xianxia chaos vibe. Her facial expressions alone scream “I did not sign up for this.” She starts off oblivious and more concerned about food and sleep than survival, but slowly grows into one of the most powerful figures in the story. Her character development is deeply satisfying. Watching her evolve from protected slacker to capable force of nature feels earned and organic.
And now, the main course: the chemistry. Sima Jiao and Liao Ting Yan go from master and servant to friends to lovers in a progression that feels natural and intoxicating. Their dynamic is electric. The intimacy is sensual without being overdone, tender without being cheesy. Chef’s kiss does not even begin to cover it. Their stolen glances and quiet moments together sometimes say more than entire monologues.
However, this is where my personal struggle begins. The plot spans multiple lifetimes, three or maybe four depending on how you count them, and after the first life and Liao Ting Yan’s supposed death, I felt my enthusiasm dip. Even if one of them retains their memories in the following lives, they still have to rebuild everything from scratch. Enemies or strangers to lovers, all over again. It became emotionally exhausting for me. Instead of anticipation, I felt fatigue. I tried to push through, but my motivation slowly fizzled out. That said, this is not a bad drama by any means. The visuals are often stunning, like beautifully painted scrolls brought to life, even if the CGI has its shaky moments. The supporting characters all serve clear purposes and add layers to the story rather than cluttering it. The drama’s biggest strength remains Sima Jiao and his blazing, almost combustible chemistry with Liao Ting Yan.
For now, I am putting this drama on hold. Not because it failed, but because it burned so intensely that I needed a breather. Maybe one day I will return to see how destiny continues to toy with these two star crossed souls. Until then, I will remember it as the drama that gave me a villainous immortal with a tragic past, a slacker heroine who weaponized indifference, and a romance that truly played with fire.
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Whutta Bummer…
Y’all ready to admit this went downhill fast? No? ok.This show started off strong. The first few episodes had me hooked. The setup was promising, the characters were compelling, and it actually felt like something special was brewing. But by episode 10? I was sitting there like, what are y’all even talking about anymore? The story lost all focus. The pacing? A total mess. Don’t even get me started on the production quality. It genuinely felt like the director just threw in the towel halfway through. Like… did the budget run out? Did the editor quit? Something happened, and it shows. 😭
Now, the only reason I kept watching were THE LEADS. Both the male and female leads carried the show on their backs like champions. They gave it their all, and honestly, they deserved a much better script and world to work with. But even they couldn't save a sinking ship.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t unsee the ugly CGI, the boring-as-heck villains, and the half-baked worldbuilding that felt like an afterthought. This show had potential, but it got fumbled hard. And it hurts more because it could have been great.
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FML quirky, but useless. while ML does everything.
I stopped watching this series because frankly I really thought that FML Tingyao would eventually be worthy as a partner for Sima Jiao. Instead, Tingyao ends up being the dum dum character that breaks everything down for the audience and while that character IS needed, it should not be the main character. Sima Jiao constantly bails her out of her poison, her memory loss, her thunder trials, etc. the plot was also not communicated well (ie she forgot her identity as Tingyao but remembered she’s transmigrated? Ontop of forgetting her Frost Fish identity? The orange peel they call a mask - who approved of this?! I dont get it.) The plot can be interesting at times but it did feel like a lot of the story is only moving because it’s the plot. It wouldnt make sense wen you actually pause and think about it. There is some cute romance and beautiful shots but I genuinely had to stop watching. I stopped ep 23. I would recommend watching this if… you’re into ML suffering everything for FML who also doesn’t have much of character or role in the story, from what I saw.Was this review helpful to you?
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I wish you would release all the episodes at once...
This drama is good until now... But i wish you have released all the episodes at once ... I really hate it when you end the episode at the most critical moments and then it take a day to release an episode and people like me who are watching it would probably die of anxiety...And the guy who played the role of shi qingluv ... I don't know if he played the role so emotionally or his acting is like that but I want to beat him in the drama ... I mean he did play well many scenes that I almost want to slap his pretentious and hypocritical face but sometimes his emotions becomes to dramatic... And he has terrible character and his self righteous behaviour and too much scheming made me literally hate him , i probably remember his character in this and won't be able to see him positively even if he plays positive role in the future... I don't know how to comment on heroine ... But i wish the male lead knows sooner that she has been soul cleansed so he can understand that someone are manipulating her and so he don't fall into their plot again... He has lived a pretty prisoned life and all the people around him are blood sucking leeches and vampires who not only suck his family's blood but also flesh and feed on it... And female lead is good ... She did her role in the beginning in a very simple character but later changed . she underwent torture but she still doesn't understand the world even after living the previous life ... I mean she has her modern life memory so she can sometimes understand that people can manipulate even if she doesn't have memories of sima jiao and her ... And i wish there is a remedy for soul cleansing ... I wish she could remember their previous and precious memories and could remember his sufferings so as to not blindly try to kill him and hurt him further ... Because although she lost her memory she is the only precious one he has to look forward to in the world where heavens are trying to kill him, gods are trying to kill him and people are trying to kill him and if even , she , the only light in his life kills him, then that will be devastating to imagine... And to be on fair side sima jiao really does have right take revenge for all the suffering the world made him to suffer... And sima jiao's voice is simply too awesome and he is a handsome man... Many say he is a pretty boy but it doesn't matter if he is strong and i personally prefer pretty ones who is strong and has brains and will be loyal for life and be there for each other unwaveringly ... And his voice can literally make many women's ears pregnant... I wish my pretty life partner does have his type of voice .... So powerful and resonating and pleasant..
*Here on I am gonna review upon while drama... I found it especially good except for I mean i would have been better if you would have added more scenes for their modern world time ... And i wish if you would have added what have happened to sima jiao in the past world where it was liao tingyun and sima jiao and their friends... I mean the world can't be without a ruler right... They created a peaceful world and if she died the world would plunge into chaos nah? ... The follow up would have been better and how sima jiao fought with heavens to find a way to reach zou Yan in the modern world ... And we didn't even know his name in the modern world ...like the assistant called him Mr. Wei ... It's no where near the name sima jiao ... I found ending a little unsatisfactory... I mean it's like open ending... With the smile on male lead's face it seems like he remembered her but when did he remember , if he did remember he should atleast search for her nah... I don't know... I have many doubts but I liked this drama very much and i wish there is continuation to this ... And a little story for it rather than this ending... On my part that is all but I can rate it 9.9/10 ... This 0.1 is for the ending... I hope audience can enjoy it...
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it's Awesome
wow...I’ve fallen in love with this series—the storyline and the actors are absolutely amazing. I really enjoy this genre, and Arthur’s performance in the show is incredible. I love it so much that I’ve already rewatched it several times. I can't wait for next episodes.I just hope it has a good ending...In the novel, it had a happy ending, so I hope the director doesn’t change it.❤️🔥💖
Also, Sima Jiao has made it onto my list of favorite demons—he’s truly charming and kindhearted. His partner is really great too. I just want them to get back to their days together soon.🥹🥰
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A Powerful ML Overshadowed by a Weak FL
Story – 7.5/10The storyline is solid with good world-building, strong plot twists, and a villain that feels genuinely evil. It doesn’t get boring because the conflicts keep escalating, and the whole cultivation + fengshan bloodline element is engaging. But the romance arc is unbalanced. The ML gives everything while the FL contributes almost nothing, which weakens the emotional impact.
I also wonder what exactly makes him fall for her. With just a snap of his fingers, he could find countless women who fit his preferences, women who are sincere and mean no harm. So why her specifically? Being “good” alone isn’t convincing. The ML should have stayed colder and more guarded, letting the FL fall first to create a more natural progression.
From the very start, FL is a total salted fish, carefree, unexpressive, barely contributing to anything serious. Meanwhile, ML is literally carrying the weight of the world: hunted, sealed, traumatized, and emotionally shattered, yet he still fights, protects, and patiently supports her. She forgets him, he consoles her; she’s in danger, he steps in; she’s weak, he bears the burden. Every emotional moment, every sacrifice, every heroic act, it’s all HIM. While she floats along in her “vacation mode.” The imbalance is insane. ML’s growth, patience, and protection shine bright, but FL’s lethargic personality and lack of initiative make the story feel unfairly stacked like all the suffering belongs to him, and all the ease belongs to her.
Male Lead (ML) – 10/10
Charming, striking, and with a deep voice that perfectly fits his protective, tragic, and powerful role. He’s the reason this drama is addictive. His devotion and sacrifices feel real, and he basically carries the entire romance and emotional weight of the story.
Female Lead (FL) – 3/10
She’s lazy, robotic, and emotionless. Even after insane power-ups and personal training, she remains weak and careless. Her only “value” is being the reason the ML doesn’t give up, but she never convincingly shows love or growth. The only time she acts to save him is by reluctantly merging with him after being pressured by the spirit fire. She still wasn’t expressive or affectionate enough, which makes her character flat and frustrating.
Chemistry – 5/10
Most of the chemistry is one-sided from the ML. His intensity and passion are undeniable, but the FL’s lack of emotion makes the relationship feel unbalanced like he’s deeply in love with a wall. The ML, who was sealed for 500 years of pain and resentment, falls too quickly and becomes overly sweet, while the FL stays innocent and detached. The pacing feels wrong: he’s too fast, she’s too slow. Together, they lack dynamic push-and-pull, so the romance ends up flat.
Visuals / CGI – 9/10
The CGI is surprisingly strong for this type of drama. The battle scenes in the sky are visually powerful and well executed, making the cultivation world feel grand and alive.
Overall – 7/10
This drama is worth watching for the ML alone. He’s the heart and soul of the story, and his performance is outstanding. Unfortunately, the FL drags down the romance, and the lack of emotional balance makes their love story feel shallow. The imbalance is CRYSTAL CLEAR. Every growth moment, every sacrifice, every trial - ALL ML. Her passive and indifferent nature makes the drama feel heavily tilted in his favor. and honestly, it’s frustrating to watch someone suffer THIS much while the other just… exists.
With better chemistry, it could’ve been unforgettable. Still, the good action, strong villain writing, and impressive CGI make it entertaining.
💬 My Comment: By episode 15, the FL still doubts the ML’s love, which makes no sense. He has saved her countless times and constantly shown his feelings, yet she stays unsure. The most unrealistic part is how she can go for so long without truly falling for him. Honestly, just looking at him would already make anyone’s heart flutter 🤭.
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FAV XIANXIA DRAMA!!
When Destiny Brings the Demon is a delightful fusion of fantasy, romance, and modern wit that breathes fresh life into xianxia dramas. Anchored by the dynamic portrayal of Sima Jiao—a once-bitter immortal master slowly thawed by the laid-back charm of Liao Tingyan, whose "salted fish" disposition (a humorous metaphor for enduring apathy) offers a beautifully grounding contrast . Their unlikely bond evolves across three lifetimes—spanning the fairy palace, the demonic realm, and the human world—as they navigate trials, revenge, and redemption . The storytelling shines with its refreshing modern inflections—characters drop playful terms like “boss” or “vacation,” adding relatability and humor to the mystical landscape . Visually the series is a feast: graceful traditional costumes in silk and vibrant fabrics blend seamlessly with sophisticated digital effects that bring creatures like serpents and otters to vivid life . Overall, it strikes a brilliant balance—mixing heartwarming romance, multidimensional character development, and enchanting visuals—in a narrative that’s both heartfelt and delightfully unexpected.Was this review helpful to you?
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A hero would sacrifice you for the world, but a villain would sacrifice the world for you
Review in progress...Cute romance, but weak plot: 7/10 ⭐️
I watched this drama while it was airing, but initially dropped around episode 12 and, after picking it up again because of its high rating, I remember why. The story just doesn’t fully engage me and feels mediocre overall for its high rating.
The transmigration element seems a bit unnecessary since the FL adapts to the cultivation world almost instantly. Apart from some modern knowledge about technology etc., her past life barely matters. It feels like it was just added to the overall comedy which I did enjoy sometimes. But she could have simply been written as a "native" character in that world.
While I find the FL very relatable for simply wanting to enjoy life, eating good food and treating everything like a vacation, and I really like Wang Yinglu as an actress (she was amazing in 12 Letters!!), her character feels kind of naive. She fell in love very quickly, especially considering that the ML is introduced as the story’s biggest villain. While he is clearly a victim of the other sects, he’s still portrayed as dangerous. Yet she doesn't seem to question that and trusts him very easily, and their romance develops at a pace that feels rushed. But despite my criticisms, I do think the romance is very cute. The first arc is actually enjoyable, if you only watch for the romance. Watching their feelings develop was so sweet and heartwarming, especially since they do have lots of chemistry on- and off-screen!
Another issue is that the side characters (and the acting) don’t particularly interest me, and their storylines don’t add much engagement :(
What I really like though is the beautiful soundtrack. The OST is really amazing and one of the highlights of the drama!
What I like the most so far:
✿ The way Sima Jiao adores Liao Tingyan and would burn the world for her 🥹
✿ This drama did the star-crossed lovers trope and "villain would burn the world for their love" the best!!
✿ Liao Tingyan being all silly and cutesy!
✿ The OST!
✿ The comedy is fine too, most of the time ^o^
Overall, I don’t quite understand the high rating, but I might still finish it to see if it improves :)
Edit: I'm actually quite enjoying it now, might add 0.5 stars...
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Very refreshing I WANT MORE DRAMA LIKE THIS
I started watching this drama because of Feng Baobao, but it turns out I fell in love with Arthur Chen too. Both of their performances are absolutely magnificent and fit the characters perfectly. It’s been fun and enjoyable to watch so far. Definitely the best drama of the year. I want drama like this more moreWas this review helpful to you?
