This review may contain spoilers
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?
It's hard to ignore the limited special effects, to put it diplomatically.
You have to be really into celestial palace intrigues between millennial beings in an bad RPG landscape. I lasted until halfway through. 17 out of 33 episodes, no less. The cardboard sets, the ridiculous superpowers, the scheming between clans I didn't know existed five minutes ago, death but actually no I'm coming back as a spirit and I'm alive again (are you elves, actually ?), all of that got the better of my patience.
Wang Yinglu is exceptional, naturally. In 'Twelve Letters', that same year, she played a completely different character with great intensity. She's a superb actress. And she undoubtedly deserves better roles than that of a servant to a capricious god.
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No interesting plot
watched 1-4 so far not that interesting tho the rating 7.9 is worth it.7.9/10 rating mainly due to decent performances and production quality rather than a compelling storyline. The romance and fantasy elements are passable, but the narrative lacks depth and originality, making it feel predictable. While the chemistry between the leads is enjoyable, the pacing drags at times, and the conflicts aren’t particularly gripping.
Verdict: Worth a watch if you enjoy light fantasy-romance, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking. The rating seems fair—neither outstanding nor terrible.
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This review may contain spoilers
A love that transcends the three realms!
This is my first time watching Arthur Chen/Chen Feiyu on my side here.I mean, I have known about him since he was cast as Mo Ran in The Immortality which is a Danmei Adaptation to 2HA "The Husky and his White Cat Shizun, and if that drama would have aired(which will never be T.T), I would have gotten to see him as Mo Ran on my side here.
I am still sad that his character as "Mo Ran" was shelved and we never get to see him as Mo Ran with Luo Yunxi as Chu Wanning, but I am happy I have come to find out about this Drama (When Destiny Brings the Demon), because I honestly have no complaints about his acting and portrayal as Sima Jiao.
I love to see more Male Lead like Sima Jiao to be honest, where the Male Lead is powerful, domineering where everyone fears him, even the Female Lead, but then the Male Lead (Sima Jiao) is leaning more towards a "Grey side", where he is neither good or evil, he just will do what he see is his right path. His character kinda reminds me of Tantai Jin as well but only this time he loves a female lead who is devoted to him and is worthy of his love.
Just by judging his character as Sima Jiao, I know he will do his character Moran justice if that drama were to air but overall even if I know Immortality never gets to air I am glad in a parallel sense I get to see his character as Sima Jiao if that makes sense.
I love Sima Jiao from the beginning and I found him awesome/cool when he asserts his power (Spirit Fire), and scheme against those "Righteous" Celestial Cultivators where the 8 Palaces Leader played a role to sealing him for 500 years just because he was from the Sima Clan, and they all fear his Spirit Fire. When he took revenge on those who did that to him, I found him so cool in that scene.
I love Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan love story and chemistry. I love how Sima Jiao have the ability to use the Truth Spell on those people and get the truth/answers that he asks for, that was so refreshing to see, instead of the typical miscommunication/misleading information. When he use them on Liao Tingyan and most of the time the answers she gave was out of what Sima Jiao expects, it's just so hilarious.
Sima Jiao is a character I came to really love on my side here, and I love his journey with Ting Yan (Female Lead) in this drama, where even when he falls in love with her, he never stopped his plans to take down Shi Qingyv (who is the mastermind to his suffering for all this time).
While the story involving their love journey have it's ups and downs, but I do see that this is a pairing that goes through life and death and is always united as one, even in their soul manor, they have formed a very intimate relationship between the main pairing.
Overall I really enjoy the drama, but if I have to be totally honest, I just wish the ending was done better. I was never one who support Open Ending on my side here, especially not after all they've been through. I wanted a more conclusive happy ending and I wish they would have gotten their happy ending in the Xianxia(Sima Jiao world). I don't like an ending that raises more questions for me because I wanted a more conclusive closure for my favourite couple.
In the end, it raises questions for me, because this whole time while it happened in Sima Jiao world, in Zou Yan world (where she was Liao Tingyan when she transmigrated, only lasted for 1 day at most, then what actually happened in the end, when we saw the him in the modern world, was that really Sima Jiao that transmigrated to Zou Yan(Female Lead world) in the end? Because he did said no matter what he will find her again. I really want to believe that is Sima Jiao at the end, and I wish they will have a continuation in the Modern world. I need another drama between Arthur Chen/Chen Feiyu and Wang Ying Lu in a Modern Romance setting!! I really enjoyed their chemistry, and I hope they will have another Modern Romance Drama together. One where Arthur Chen/Chen Feiyu carry the same hairstyle as the ending to this Drama (When Destiny Brings the Drama).
Overall I give this drama a 9.5/10. It lost 0.5 because I honestly wish the ending was a better/happier one in a conclusive way, oh well. I guess it does bring out that theme that his love for her can transcend the three realms if he can go to her world like that in the end, and I am inclined to believe that is really Sima Jiao at the end, because he did promise her that he will find her again, and the ending before she "dies" she said she live in a world that is beyond the three realms. Even, when time works differently in Zou Yan(Female Lead) world when compared to Sima Jiao world, but he managed to find a way in the end, so they got their happy ending in the Modern Setting.
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Top drama for 2025
Didn't expect this draturned out to be so great, just finished watching the last episode last night and ilthe scenes still playing over and over in my head that I want to watch from the beginning episode to the end again. Loved the OST!!! Not all dramas kept you captivated with the storyline in all episodes. This drama did! I would fully recommend.Was this review helpful to you?
Don't miss it
This Drama is soo Good. At first I didn't expect this long and in depth drama but this is way more than what I expected of it. The chemistry between the leads is something worth mentioning it was too gooddd.The ending was soo satisfying. I was thinking this would definitely be a sad ending but no the writer gave us a happy ending with. I was totally worth watching!!!! The OST is also good.. This drama took many turns but every turn is worth waiting and watching it. The support roles are also soo good. I loved every scene where main leads are there their chemistry is just over flowing, like they are meant to do that..Was this review helpful to you?
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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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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