In the words of Liao Tingyan, it's a vacation!
A modern office worker, transmigrated to three realms after an accident, has to serve a destructive and tyrannical great-great boss of the world.✅️ The story felt unique even with the usual xianxia tropes.
✅️ The start was strong with comedic timing that didn't feel imposed.
✅️ The characters had a wonderful developmental arc, and the actors performed well in bringing them to life.
✅️ The love story and the chemistry between the actors is definitely the strongest points of this drama.
✅️ Fascinating cinematography with an addictive soundtrack.
❌️ The pacing in the middle of the drama was a little slow with less plot progression.
❌️ The conflicts with the antagonist in the second half of the drama felt repetitive.
Overall, a very good watch. Recommended if you like love story spanning different lifetimes.
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This review may contain spoilers
Just an all rounder!
I’ll be honest, When Destiny Brings the Demon was not a drama I expected much from. I wasn’t fully convinced by Arthur Chen’s acting and I only knew Wang Ying Lu from one project, so I came in with almost no expectations. But from the very first episodes, I was surprised at how quickly this drama pulled me in.I picked this up when it was already half way airing but binged it and ended up waiting for the next episodes.The real heart of the show is definitely the chemistry between Arthur Chen as the brooding, vengeful Sima Jiao and Wang Ying Lu as the easygoing, almost slacker-like Liao Tingyan. Every scene they had together was magnetic. I found myself giggling, smiling, and even getting butterflies just watching them interact. Their dynamic felt fresh and alive, making even the smallest moments between them feel special.
The pacing of the drama also impressed me. The story moved quickly and smoothly, never dragging or feeling weighed down by unnecessary filler. The only plot point I wasn’t fond of was the memory loss arc. It’s a trope that always feels a little tired, and here it didn’t add much for me. That said, I did like that even with her memories altered, Tingyan’s heart still recognized Sima Jiao. It didn’t take long for her to fall for him again, which made it feel less frustrating.
The supporting cast had good chemistry as well. Gao Han in particular, I adored. Having seen him recently play a villain in a drama alongside MZY and LXY, I half-expected his character to betray Sima Jiao here. But to my surprise, he stayed loyal and good throughout. It gave the story a nice balance, showing that not every side character has to hide a knife behind their back. He was so soft and such a puppy for a black serpent. LOL. Actress Wang Yi Ting did well too. Her character was well written in the beginning. She was someone kind and goal driven even though some action may have been selfish. But then, her character fell flat for me after she was brought back from dying. It was as if her character had no importance, just there as a friend to hangout with Tingyan or even just a decoration for Tingyan when Sima Jiao isn't around. I would've love to see her charcter more active in the second half. But overall, her chemistry with Gao Han was cute and filled with innocence compared to WYL and AC whose chemistry was more intense and passionate.
The ending was bittersweet for me. I had wished to for them to embrace one another recognizing each other but their meeting will do it for me. I believe that they're fated for one another and bound to fall in love over and over again, doesn't matter what timeline, what their name is, they'll always find each other.
Overall this was a 10/10 watch for me. From plot to chemistry, to acting and music and cgi effects, I love every aspect of it. I'd watch this again.
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The Result of Overacting and Underacting Colliding
🍅 Let’s start with the acting. This is what stood out the most to me.The Female Lead:
Her acting's way too exaggerated, even looks cartoonish at times. Whenever she’s shocked or surprised, she reacts the exact same way with wide eyes and overdone expressions. Whether it’s discovering something unexpected or when some truly tragic really happens, she acts the same way. She can't adjusts the intensity to match the situation. Apart from being shocked and surprised, expressing happiness is also her problem. When she shows happiness, it looks fake. It seems she jumps from one form of pretension to another, always portrayed on the rim of the loudest. It makes her character come across as shallow, like she doesn't know the different depth or genuine characteristics of each emotion. Her acting skills are uncrafted and feels pretentious as a result. This pretentiousness is annoying to watch.
The Male Lead:
If the FL is “too much,” the ML is the exact opposite. His face is stuck in one gear: monotone and blank, with occasional stiff, unconvincing smile. The smile's supposedly reserved for the FL, but those moments feel forced and hollow. His character would grow from fierce and closed-off to calmer and gentler toward the FL, but there’s no real change in his performance. It’s just one expression all the way through. I used to like him in Ever Night, where his style actually fit the role, but since then when I watched Lighter and Princess and now When Destiny Brings Demon, it feels like he’s recycling the same persona - trying to appear aloof and cool, but it comes off forced and ultimately unconvincing in this role.
Together, the leads are a mismatch of extremes: one overacts, the other underacts. Neither side really works, and together it just highlights the weaknesses of both even more.
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🍅 Character Design
The FL’s character is written in a way that already makes her feel stupid from time to time, but paired with the actress’s exaggerated delivery, she comes across as outright foolish. It’s half weak character design and half poor acting combined.
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🍅 Story Design
The storytelling suffers too. Way too much screen time is given to just the FL and ML together without the plot moving forward in any meaningful way. After a while, it starts to feel like filler. I don’t know if the budget went entirely into casting these two and left nothing for side characters, but if that’s the case, it was a bad move since these main leads are not capable to carry the show.
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🍅 Screenplay
Their screenplay is amateur. It's shown clearly through the vague dialogues and unnecessary scenes. This drags the pace of the whole series.
I just knew after finished watching both When Destiny Brings Demon and Moonlit Reunion (the latter one finished a couple days later) that the original novels of these two series have the same author 😳 The thing is the dialogue and screenplay for MR is a lot better than WDBD. The overall quality of MR is also a lot better. Both of them were on air at the same time and the official rating always told that MR (hovering ~14%) is above WDBD (~9%). I just don't understand how the review scores on this site for these two series are the opposite. How WDBD has a higher score than MR?? I can only think that the hardcore fans of probably Chen Feiyu likely manipulate the points with their biases. I wouldn't be surprised to find that this group of people are actually elementary/middle schoolers when considering how childish they are.
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🍅 Plot Holes ((Spoiler))
One thing that made no sense to me: why does the FL lose all her memories from the cultivation world but somehow keep everything from the modern world? The logic doesn’t add up, and it feels like the writers just wanted a convenient excuse to reset her arc without fully thinking it through.
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This review may contain spoilers
It was meh
I was so close to dropping the drama by episode 6, but pushed through. The special effects were often cringy, the green screen had many holes and backgrounds looked fake, and the acting was often overdone. I stayed for the female lead and overall thought she was a likeable character.I didn't think most of the romance was particularly good and there were way, way too many flashbacks of things we had just seen. I skipped through some of the scenes and think this drama easily could have been 5 or even 10 episodes shorter. Some of the plotlines were recycled throughout the story, and for some of it I couldn't tell if it was intentional or not.
Overall, I think this drama had potential but I got really tired of seeing the same kiss over and over and people spitting up blood 5 times an episode. It just lost meaning over time since it was so overused. Moderation is key to everything.
The costumes were beautiful and I enjoyed some songs (a couple kind of ruined the moments because of the cheesy song choice in the moment). Overall, whoever was in charge of costumes did an amazing job. I wish a couple of the songs were not used in the OST since it did sour my experience. Many of the orchestral songs were beautiful.
Overall, this was a mediocre show with poor chemistry between the leads most of the time (the pacing of the romance was also off at times) and I was hooked just enough to finish watching it to find where it went.
Spoiler:
During the last scene (during the last shot), I literally said "oh my GOD" in a slightly annoyed voice out loud. How could the show end like that? That was so unsatisfying.
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Arthur Chen.. has made me a believer ?
First off.. just to let you know none of my reviews will give out spoilers. My reviews are based on whether or not i personally enjoyed the show. And what i liked and disliked about each drama i watch.Lets begin 💜
I really took a leap on this show becuz for some weird reason i never found Arthur Chen attractive and his shows interesting. I avoided him like the plague. But wow.. thank goodness i took this chance. This show was so good. Plus Arthur Chen looked so handsome in this and so did Gao Han. THIS is what i call a beautifully executed love story. The ML and FL no fall outs.. no misunderstandings and splitting up for years etc.. their love was so organic and flowed without conflicts. These kinds of love stories really make your heart want to explode. Every romantic scene got me screaming and giddy. Which there was so many!! Their love conquered 3 lifetimes. Watch this if you want a love story that makes you want to root for the couple all the way 💜
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When Destiny Brings The Everlasting Love Across All Realms
Hands down one of the best... if not the top one in Xianxia genre I have watched. Their chemistry was top notch, skinship natural, romance well built up, and the story was captivating from start to end. This is how an everlasting love Between 3[4] realms and lifetimes should be executed. Even when they forgot eachother, their souls and heart were allined and so in tune with each other. I loved that about this drama and as someone who hates amnesia arcs with passion!! It was the first time I enjoyed watching these too soulmates find their way to each other and fall in love all over again. It was such a breath of fresh air !I did hope they would go more in depth as to what happened in human realm after FL is gone and how it went for supporting characters and Sima jiao's reaction, but I guess it was the limit they could go with for only 33 episodes. I will definitely rewatch it again
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Every lonely journey, ends with a fated encounter.
Where should I begin with this one? WDBTD was a complete surprise to me! I didn’t expect it to captivate me the way it did!I’ve been absolutely thriving while watching this cdrama! It’s like a love-filled hug in xianxia form. Sure, the plot might not be the most extraordinary in the genre (maybe even a little “plain” by usual standards) but honestly? You don’t need fireworks when the chemistry between the leads is this magnetic. Their relationship just warms your soul. Seeing them embrace every form of love is so satisfying. And what I really love is that there’s not a ton of silly, drawn-out drama. The leads actually talk things through, stay mostly on the same page, which is such a refreshing twist in Xianxia land. I can say no other couple I know has been as sweet as these two.
And here’s the tea that made it even better for me: It's the way they wrote the two main characters. They are both so addicting and charming in their own way. On one hand, we have Sima Jiao as the broody, sealed tsundere cultivator who has been through it all and on the other end, we have our girl Liao Tingyan who is the modern, exhausted corporate drone turned into a slacker disciple. Her “I just want naps and food” energy is such a vibe in a cultivation world and the way she handles every serious situation in the earlier eps with laid-back humor is so entertaining to watch.
But ofc with that being said, their character growth is quite evident as the plot progresses! The FL over time, she really steps up. You can see her slowly maturing, becoming more serious, more responsible and emotionally grounded. It’s so rewarding to see her evolve from someone just trying to survive in the cultivation world to someone who’s actively shaping it.
As for the ML, he might begin as this cold, aloof, shut-off tyrant, but the way his icy exterior gradually melts as he opens up to her is just…beautiful!
On the visuals side, the aesthetics are stunning and the vibe feels refreshing even for an ancient fantasy world. Even the main soundtrack hits perfectly, adding emotional depth without being overwhelming. Honestly, this drama may not be action-packed every minute, but it’s full of quiet magic in its characters, in the way it handles love and healing and in the way it lets its story breathe.
I’m really going to miss this, but I know it’ll be one of those comfort shows I might come back to. If you’re in the mood for a xianxia that’s low-drama, full of love and driven, this one’s absolutely worth your time.
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1When Destiny Hands You a Demon Boyfriend
Xianxia + TransmigrationAfter a car accident, the FL, Liao Tingyan (played by Wang Yinglu) wakes up in a different world. Her greatest ambition? To be a “salted fish” — i.e., to be lazy and do absolutely nothing. After the initial expected shock of waking up in a different fantasy world, Liao Tingyan realizes this great miraculous opportunity — a chance at the vacation she never had time to take in her real life. Too bad fate has other plans.
Initially at the selection cermony to “make up the numbers”, she’s chosen as one of a hundred women sent to serve the Lord of “Mercy”. Despite trying her hardest to stay invisible to keep her life (and enjoy her “vacation”), her actions catches the eye of this Immortal Ancestor (played by Chen Feiyu) and gets swept into his plans for revenge against those who imprisoned him for over 500 years. What follows is a journey that forces them to trust one another, fall in love, and sacrifice deeply.
The drama is an uncomplicated romance, and its greatest strength lies in that very simplicity, as well as in the charm of its characters. Liao Tingyan’s overworked modern-girl personality — and her ability to shrug and say “meh” while rolling with the tide — is charming. I especially loved how she often took the lead in their relationship, leaving the supposedly fearsome ancestor blushing (at least in the beginning, lol). Wang Yinglu with the perfect awkward acting nailed this character.
Although I’ve only watched one other drama from each lead (and I use the term watched here loosely), I have to say: Chen Feiyu left a serious impression here. He embodied every stage of Sima Jiao’s development flawlessly — from the deliciously vengeful ancestor, to the shy and bewildered “why is this girl messing with my heart” version, to the reluctant boyfriend rediscovering humanity, to the tender lover, the grieving partner, and even the innocent 19-year-old emperor.
The chemistry is not to be overlooked either. This drama might just have one of the most intimately charged CPs of the year. Their connection wasn’t just about the many (and I mean many) kisses, but also in the soft gazes, the gentle caresses, the nose rubs. Half the time I wanted to replay those moments, and the other half I felt like a guilty voyeur intruding on a private scene.
That said, the drama isn’t without flaws. It doesn’t boast a strong antagonist — most of them exist purely to move the couple along their love story. Not a disaster for a romance-focused drama, but it does feel a bit lazy at times. The demon realm arc was underwhelming, but the mortal realm arc? A mess. It gave off the same vibe as writing an exam essay: you start off detailed and confident, but halfway through you realize you’re out of both time and paper, so you rush to cram everything in. Suddenly, instead of showing the plot, the drama resorts to endless inner monologues, basically saying, “I’ll just tell you what’s happening — sit tight and listen.”
The second leads didn’t add much either. Whatever charm they had ended during the first arc. And this is not saying anything about the so called love rival for the main couple. Possibly the most generic and unimaginative character they could have thrown in. Both the character and writing was so grating it made me want to swat him away like a buzzing mosquito.
Although I have praised the main leads acting earlier, I have to mention one complaint, which is that their emotional portrayals during the “death” scenes felt underwhelming. I wanted more — disbelief, shock, messy crying, even outright guttural screaming or outrage. Sima Jiao’s reaction during the transition into the demon arc was great, but sadly, that intensity didn’t carry over into another key moment (staying vague here to avoid spoilers 😭). I’m honestly not sure if this was on the actors or a directing choice, but it left me wanting more.
Overall: A great pick if you’re looking for an easy romance with likable leads, tons of chemistry, and just enough angst sprinkled in.
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want bucket loads of romantic scenes? this is your show!!
this story is funny, romantic and lovely. the FL has a unique funny personality, the actress is expressive, beautiful and funny and i think this performance and casting is intergral to why this show works so well.the ML is a ruthless lord and somewhat of a child and grows a lot due to the relationship he formed with the FL. that part is very well done and heartwarming.
their chemistry is great, their scenes are going to give you butterflies and the story is solid adressing the dark underside of what it could mean to have a race who’s blood is miraculous to outsiders.
will add more thoughts when this series concludes.
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Great and unique drama
This drama is incredibly well done. The story is captivating and fast-paced, with seamlessly embedded modern elements. The chemistry between the leads is fantastic, LTY is innocent and wants to spread happiness. She is relatable, and her thoughts reflect those of the viewer. SJ seems ruthless on the surface but he is also smart and can identify everyone’s motives. He softens through LTY and finds peace in her. The casting is perfect, as all the actors are talented and skilled. Additionally, both the cinematography and the OST are beautiful and deepen the feelings of each scene. Overall it is unique, I hope it will get the recognition it deserves.Was this review helpful to you?
When destiny brings the demon
Initially this drama was good but later on it got boring. I'm so frustrated with xianxia dramas like why does the male lead have to suffer so much. Even in this drama, almost every trouble comes from the female lead being stupid and dumb. Like can you give some brain to FL's in xianxia?.The male leads have to suffer so much like here in WDBTD the FL does nothing except bring trouble. The ML has enough problems and is traumatized due to his past sufferings now he even has to protect the damsel in distress everytime. Come on!! Make a good drama where the FL has brains and can protect herself and at the very least not cause trouble for the ML.
I like watching xianxia but this type of trope is making me sickkkkk!!
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This review may contain spoilers
One of my absolute favorites!!
If I were to grab a shovel and try to dig up some flaws with this show, sure I may dig up a few pebbles. Was the plot repetitive? Sure. Sima Jiao was the shit. Everyone either wanted to imprison him, harvest his special blood or kill him because he consistently overpowers and outsmarts all of you lesser bitches. That’s basically the plot. Was the ending a little rushed? Sure. Do I wish we had a few more episodes in the mortal world and in the modern world? Absolutely (also who wouldn’t???). Was there some issues with pacing sometimes? Yeah, okay.But the strengths of this show far, far outweigh any issues that snobby critics may come with. This main couple quickly rose in ranks to my top 1-3 favorite romances of all Asian shows I have ever watched (and I watch a lot). Their chemistry, the complementary nature of their personalities and the sheer amount of screen time they had together - all created this ultimate powerhouse of a couple. We were blessed with SO MANY sensual kisses, intimate touches, poetic dialogue, soulful gazes, powerful teamwork and open communication. No serious love triangles, no annoying incidences of noble idiocrisy or dragged out miscommunication. Conflict was resolved quickly, the amnesia subplots moved forward at a good pace with lovely soulful angst thanks to the writing and acting. It’s a total feast for us lovers of romance.
The ML also became one of my most favorite MLs of all time as well. Arthur Chen’s portrayal of Sima Jiao was flawless. His ability to just emote SO MUCH emotion through his eyes and through his intimate touches had me feeling all of the feels right alongside him. His ability to seamlessly shift from a dark, cold, ruthless, vindictive and wrathful god into a traumatized, tender, sensual, smiley, cute, vulnerable and enamored man in love with the FL showcased Arthur’s incredible range of abilities. Sima Jiao was beautifully complex. He was able to shed a single tear with the FL in one moment and completely annihilate anyone who threatened them in the next moment coldly and without batting an eye. The best part about all of this is that although Sima Jiao got fantastic character development he never lost the parts of himself that we loved the most. He never lost his dark edge, his powerful aura or his stoic exterior (except when he’s with our FL, of course). He remains delightfully consistent throughout the show in spite of the growth.
And our FL is the perfect balance to his personality. The yang to his yin. Carefree, nonjudgmental, empathetic, unassuming, easy-going, go with the flow type of gal. Although she sometimes disagreed with the ML’s methods or asked him not to do certain things, she never tried to change him. She never had a judgmental attitude toward his edgy darkness, but rather grew to understand that it was rooted in 500 years of physical torture and torment, trauma, and sadistic generational oppression against his kind. Her light brought out his innate goodness, and his dark edge also allowed her to connect with those parts of herself as well. And although sometimes I think her refusal to kill others was taken too far at times (seriously, they oppressed and tortured our ML since birth, did some other horrendous shit and will literally kill you now if you don’t kill them first), she did get some good development as well as the story progressed without losing her essence.
What I also loved about this drama was the development of the three major arcs throughout the show. The ML was the unstoppable, always-saving badass while she was developing her skills in the first arc, the second arc brought them to more of an equal footing in power, and in the final arc the roles were reversed and she protected him and held the power. In a parallel way, the first arc was about the main leads developing the foundation of their love for each other together, the second arc was all about the ML lovingly pursuing the FL, and then we got to see her chase after him for a bit in the final arc. We got it all, guys. This show was wonderful. I think it will be a while before I get hooked on another story in the way that this one captivated me.
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