the slacker and her sugardaddy
what I liked- I adored the leads! their characters, the performances and the actors themselves were all just lovely! this is the 2nd time i've seen them both and they did not disappoint.
- the romance was extremely satisfying. the way they used the fantasy aspect and the soul manor to emphasize their intimacy and deepening bond? I don't think i've ever seen a romance written so robustly in a fantasy drama, when tingyan said in the end that she was content with their relationship, you really feel that as well.
-i liked nianjiu and sima jao's relationship. he really stayed sj's baby all the way until the end and that was just so adorable
- the world building was nice, I like how they moved from realm to realm to realm, it kept things fresh. it was so good you really find yourself wishing the entire thing wasn't a dream in the end.
- production was good, especially the costumes and set. I only heard that one dominant ost though
- I like that the story is very character driven and firmly centered on our two leads, i think the story was so successful bc they didn't bog us down with second leads and side stories.
-tingyan's slacker behavior - hilarious and relatable! made the first half of the drama
-the ending, it was thoughtful and respectful with just the right amount of aching, I really liked it. also watching tingyan dive back into the hustle immediately after she wakes totally justifies all her slacker attitude.
what I didn't like
- no reason for shi qianlu to be around for that long, and the drama's 2nd main villain was also equally underwhelming.
-on this episode of they would never write a man that way: tingyan was a kitten for too much of the drama. if she had been a man (we've seen many such lazy and unambitious male characters e.g xing zhi from shen li, or any of the other mcs in the male centered time travel dramas) , they would still have found some way to empower her. while their romance dominated the story, it did get tiring watching her be kidnapped, strung up, tortured, beaten, bullied, used against her beloved, betrayed, and deciding none of that mattered, her man will handle it. all the romance in the world will never make that palatable.
- its essentially another weak woman and her big strong man drama, only this one is coated in multiple layers of strawberry and cream and it is 'what she wants.' bc she would apparently rather die than learn to defend herself and her dissolute way of life.
- many of the bad things that happened hinged on tingyan resolutely remaining helpless, trusting, naive and defenseless for much of the drama, like a pet. and well that's just not nice
- the 2nd half was generally weaker than the first half even though so many things seemed to be happening.
in conclusion, i think the drama did exactly what it came to do. it has some well written fantasy elements, enchanting romance, and Liao Tingyan, the absolute queen of all self insert characters
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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?
multiple amnesia
This drama was great up until half of it. Then it started with the amnesia and it became ok. But after a few episodes, it was clear they have lost the plot, seemed they were just making things up as the go. Almost dying and sob fest multiple times. Finally… Death. Another amnesia. Another death. Perhaps another amnesia? They’ve left for the viewers to have a conclusion by the end. It was really tiring and frustrating, as I liked the main couple a lot. So since I liked only the first half, just half the stars for this.Was this review helpful to you?
It was a good start, then it got lost.
This drama was mediocre at best. Other than the tender romantic moments between the couple, it was an average drama. The storyline was neither new nor original. I think I have seen this troupe a few times before. It had most of the same old things a costume drama usually has.I had a hard time following the plot. I mean, there was a powerful demon and a weak girl, some cultivation with some yin and yang. The plot did not evolve beyond the demon breaking free. This was disappointing because I truly like both leads. I think one of the worst decisions Arthur Chen made was deciding not to finish “Ever Night”. If you watch it, you will know why. I believe that drama was helping him to grow his skills, and after that, his growth slowed down. IMO.
So this drama had a good start and was cute in the beginning.
The production was decent, and the costumes, although a bit bulky at times, were also decent.
In short, there was nothing that stood out about this drama. With that being said, it was still an okay watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
The plot keeps fcking changing! And the leads keep dying ?
So, finished watching this cdrama, and… I have no idea why people glaze this drama so much. I’m so disappointed about all that unnecessary mumbo jumbo that went on in the first 20 episodes, allat could’ve been a email, just for the plot to change almost twice after the 20th episode. In fact, the drama could’ve just started from the 20th episode and nobody would complain. That’s how insignificant the first 19 - 20 episodes are.The first 20 episodes were so bad, with the poor world building, like half of the time I had no idea what was going on. All of the spells, the magic and whatnot seemed so half assed. The pacing was bad, the romance was so boring, I also got pissed at the way the male lead failed to respect our fl’s boundaries. The female lead was pretty much a side character in her own story during the first 20 episodes.
They did a bunch of bs until the 20th episode and suddenly changed their mind. Like I was so close to dropping the series, but oh? Suddenly they start a new arc, where we focus more on the female lead. they change the plot once more after the 28th episode. Like istg the writers COULD NOT make up their damn mind.
Like, this drama had insane potential, but it ended up being all over the place. The execution ways sooo bad, the story got soo boring, like it was so difficult to finish the drama. Also, I wish they’d get a better actor for the male lead, imo, the actor sucked at expressing emotions, he has like one expression all the time 😭. That aside I love the yin-yang references, and the male lead’s character development was peak (but they threw allat away in the final arc 💔)
Overall, first half is shit, second arc is mid, final arc was unnecessary. Don’t recommend, cute but really lack luster.
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Could have been a 10/10 show
When I started this, I was convinced this was going to be my best xianxia, so I'm disappointed in how hard it fell off.At first, I applauded the writers for doing their best to tell a beautiful story in limited episodes, because it's obvious that this is a show that deserved 50-60 episodes to fully bloom. But as I spent more time thinking about it, I realized that the writers held partial responsibility in the mess that the second half turned into. The story they were trying to tell was incredible, but they didn't have enough episodes to tell it well. To maintain the quality, they should have cut the story down. Or at least done it over multiple seasons, (which is rare, I know).
Unfortunately, they chose to do neither and the story suffered significantly. I know that the 3-lifetime romance is a big xianxia trope. But prioritizing a trope to the detriment of good storytelling is a decision that opens them up to criticism.
What I did like (let's get this out of the way because it's super short):
Wang Yinglu and Chen Feiyu deserve so much respect for keeping us invested in these characters despite the story going downhill. I can't give them enough praise!!!!! I'm pretty sure I'm going to rewatch this a few years down the line, but I'll be sticking to the first 13 or so episodes just to bask in Tingyan & Sima Jiao's beautiful story.
What I didn't like (no surprises here):
The pacing. The pacing. The pacing.
I'm just confused with how it was set up. The show starts off slowly, letting the characters get to know each other and fall in love realistically. Before you know it, you're halfway through, having a great time. And then you realize they're going to try and fit 2 arcs (demon + mortal) in the remaining half of the show, and question marks start popping up in your brain.
This problem with pacing is exacerbated by the middle arc that feels pointless (the cultivation school and body swapping plotlines that take up a lot of time and don't have thaaaat big of an impact on the overall picture.) It's frustrating to see so much time spent on side plotlines when the main story is so rushed. We also didn't need a second couple given the massive time constraints. Ruling and Black Snake Guy didn't really add that much by having a romance arc.
The pacing is even worse in the mortal realm, where Sima Jiao falls in love with Tingyan in 1-2 episodes, depriving us of the realistic romance that made the show special in the first place. At this point it felt like the writers were just ticking off things from their to-do list. The mortal realm also features a big drought that majorly impacts the characters, but it's introduced and resolved all in the span of, like, 10 minutes, so it all feels very bland. And of course, the fight in the last episode is laughable ... or frustrating, depending on which way you fall.
I really wanted this to be a 10/10 drama. If it had resolved in the demon realm, I probably would have given it a 9. I think it poses serious conversation around whether it's worth telling a whole story if you're going to tell it poorly, or whether it's worth to cut it down to something smaller and do a magnificent job from start to finish. It's all depends on personal opinion, but I much prefer the latter.
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This review may contain spoilers
I didn’t plan to watch When Destiny Brings the Demon, but short clips kept showing up on my feed, so I decided to give it a try—and I’m glad I did! It seems like all these unplanned dramas end up being right up my alley. I’m still trying to process how I feel about this one. It’s been a few days since I finished it, but I can’t stop thinking about all the emotional moments and love scenes. Let’s dive in as I share what I loved most about this series. First off, there were a lot of kissing scenes for a Chinese drama—and I’m not complaining! It was super cute and refreshing to see that kind of intimacy on screen for once. It added to the emotional depth of the relationship and made their love story feel more alive.
Arthur Chen as the male lead—wow. The last time I properly watched any of his work was probably Ever Night. He still has that intense cold stare and powerful presence that can kill (in the best way). It’s probably why he fit this role so well. I loved how his character, despite being seen as the “bad guy,” would do absolutely anything to protect the woman he loves. It reminded me a lot of Love Between Fairy and Devil—same type of intense, forbidden love that just gets under your skin.
It was also refreshing to see a new actress in the female lead. I’d never seen any of her work before, but to be honest, she was the biggest reason I stayed at first. Her performance was captivating and sincere. Later on, it was their chemistry and the development of their love story that really kept me hooked.
What made this couple so special was how natural their love felt. The way they cared for and understood each other—it just made sense. There was no forced conflict or unnecessary drama; just two people with a deep, emotional connection, facing fate together.
I know I might be in the minority here, but I actually loved the open-ended finale. It was a clever callback to the dreams she had during the human world arc, leaving just enough mystery to keep you wondering. If they ever release a special episode, I’d love to see a glimpse of them finally finding their way back to each other.
Usually, I fall in love with the side characters in these kinds of dramas, but I’m honestly glad the main focus stayed on the couple here. Their relationship was the heart of the story, and that’s what made it so memorable and enjoyable.
If I had to nitpick, the human arc was the one part that dragged a bit for me. I know it was necessary for Sima Jiao’s plan and overall plot development, but I did find myself skipping parts just to get back to the main couple’s storyline. So I’m knocking off just a few points for that.
Still, this is definitely a series I plan to return to and rewatch—this time paying closer attention to the little details I might’ve missed. It’s rare to find a fantasy romance that hits all the right notes, but When Destiny Brings the Demon did just that.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves star-crossed lovers, a bit of fantasy, and a whole lot of heart. Give it a chance—you might end up as obsessed as I am.
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This review may contain spoilers
Anytime is good to start MAKING OUT.
let's get the conclusions out of the way, shall we?
Is it worth it: I think, yes.
Is there a happy ending: ..kinda.
Is this the best thing you'll ever see: probably not but it's definitely not bad.
Plot: a modern girlie has an accident on her way to work and is catapulted into a fantasy land where she needs to survive.
While trying to survive and squeeze out some fun she meets the most powerful lord of said land and starts serving him. Will there be a love story ahead of them?
OBSERVATIONS:
When I started the drama it give me somehow "love between demon and fair" vibes. They have a lot in common but also differ also a lot.
Let's me tell that the first 12 episode were a blast. I had so much fun. The premise is interesting and our FL is really funny. She brings her "modern slacking" attitude into this fantasy world and is trying her best to do as little as possible because even against the odds, she just want to enjoy life.
I found my self laughing at different times when she said she just wanted to "rot in piece". In a specific scene she is watering a flower, but she does it in such a silly way , I couldn't hold my laugh .
At the beginning our ML is so confused by her attitude , he thinks she is some kind of mastermind scheming something nefarious. Meanwhile she is just thinking about eating and sleeping 🤣.
Talking about the ML, he is of course our Dark Lord, locked up in a tower and used as a power bank by his enemies.
His character is cunning, smart, and despise the unimaginable trauma he's endured his whole life, he is able to better him self and save the world.
POSITIVES:
✅The actors have good chemistry. They are believable as a couple even though the have a cute vibe more then a "passionate" love.
✅The drama is never boring (except the last maybe 3 episode). Even though sometimes the plot is not the best I never found myself skipping scenes. The drama doesn't really give you "strong "emotions, but its still able to hold your attention and keep you coming back.
✅tha acting. Both Arthur Cheng and the FL (sorry don't remember her name) give solid interpretations. Unfortunately there are still some moments I didn't quite like. Arthur Cheng is too much dependent on "smirking faces" and the FL is sometimes weak when it comes to really emotional scenes. It was a bit a hit or a miss. She was really good in some scenes and bad in others.
✅If you like kissing scenes there is plenty here.
NEGATIVES ❌
The things I didn't like have mostly to do with the plot but not only.
❌ After the first 12 wonderful episode, we get, I kid you not, 5 episodes of them making out. It was really weird.
❌ Sometimes the plot just plots. At the very beginning the FL is basically a servant and the Lord has no reason to keep her alive, but he does anyways because the plot required it.
❌Kissing scenes come at random times and are sometimes even "confusing.
What I mean by that? At a certain point the ml is suffering and the FL is alliviating his pain by using her powers. To make it work they have to touch foreheads but she randomly starts making out with his unconscious body, then gets dragged into his "soul world" and keep making out. When her spirit is back, Arthur Cheng has no clothes on, which he just had a minute prior. I kept asking myself: did they bang? It was really confusing.
Kisses are a staple in this drama and there is plenty of them, but after a while they are really repetitive. Same stale position. They feel performative. There werent any passioned ones giving the fact that they love each others so much. I appreciate more skinship in Chinese drama, because there is usually a lack of it, but I wasn't particularly moved by them to be honest.
Sometimes is seems that they make out to cure each others wounds.
❌Magic inconsistency: the magic in this world is sometimes confusing. Characters do stuff one time but not the other. Examples: it is established that they are able to fly, but in a scene where a mountain is exploding, no one thinks of flying away? Really?
❌ Characters are dumm. One of the Lords is this drama is cunning and evil. He's being scheming his whole life while Sima Jiao has been locked away for 500 years. When he gets out, a mountain with hundreds of people locked up is found and they all believe is was sims Jiao who did it. Guys.... He s being away for 500 years. Any doubts about who did? Why should he even do it? He is basically a nuclear force him self.
❌How did Liao best friend come to the immortal realm is there is a barrier for demons? How? How was she even conceived to begin with?
❌Instead of showing something, they make the characters give a long ass explanation.
❌The demons who are treated basically like salvages are way better "evil antagonists" than the Immortals.
❌ Why do the men cry with only tear coming out of their eye?
❌I feel that the third arc in the mortal realm was totally unnecessary. I saw many times that in this genre, they try to portrait the "love you in 3 lives " but I don't get why. The dynamics were repetitive. I am one of those weirdos who is totally fine with a tragic ending. I think It would have being better if they ended things when Sima Jiao died the first time.
❌The ending. It was kinda of meh. The whole drama the FL is certain she is dead in the modern world (I don't why), but in the third act, she starts having dreams about doctor saving her, which means she will go back to her right time line.
The drama ends with her and the ml meeting again, but I kept wondering if this is just a fortunate case or if sima Jiao was also a modern man who ended up in a fantasy world. Is it not clear and I guess it was by design. It was kept vague enough to make you wonder.
❌Secondary characters are really weak . The little snake and the best friend were just there. There weren't interesting enough to make me care.
❌Arthur Cheng performance when the FL was dying was pretty underwhelming. She gave a much more heart wrenching performance when he died.
I could go on but that will be just me ranting over details.🤣
To draw conclusions I think this is still a solid watch. Some emotionals scenes are there (the little boy asking for soup in exchange for his blood made my cry), even though this is not a "sweep me out of my feet "drama, it still manages to keep you entertained.
The love story is good, the scheming and battlling are entertaining. Definitely watch it if you like the genre just don't expect a once in a lifetime experience.
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Love and hate.
Gah, I JUST finished watching this drama and I am at a loss for words so bare with me.I love how the story starts very light hearted, playful, and fun. I really enjoyed Wang Ying Lu/Liao Ting Yan's character. I felt it played beautifully into the cruel and painful story that was of Arthur Chen/Sima Jiao. Both of them did an amazing job with their roles. Sima Jiao was the perfect cold and authoritative grand-master. Yet with Liao Ting Yan, he let all his walls down and really become an endearing character.
Oh man... The romantic scenes!!!!! I mean wow!!! I felt like such a shy school girl peeking who was caught peeking at a couple behind the building... I've watched a couple of C-Dramas and I have not come across this much romance in it. Usually FL & ML will just touch lips but oh man.. Sima Jiao and Liao Ting Yan really made me think they were a real couple IRL with their scenes.
So now for the story, I think they did a good job building Sima Jiaos background and showcasing why he is the way he is However, with Liao Tin Yan, there wasn't too much story about her. Sure, I get she reincarnated into this world and the ending is pretty predictable. I agree with another user that they should've given us another episode or at least an extra to really see how modern world was for them.
As I mentioned earlier, the story started out light and playful. Afterwards, you get into Sima Jiaos background and uncover all the cruel things that his enemies are plotting. The world started becoming dark with hints of lightness from Liao Ting Yan's antics. I gotta say though, after a while of the same thing happening (ML/FL gets badly hurt, their live is saved by the other, rinse and repeat), the story started to drag and get a bit boring for me. I will admit, I did have to watch at 1.5x speed afterwards.
Now after finishing this drama, I am left sad and disappointed. Why? Sad, because of all the struggles FL & ML had to endure only for that disappointing and predictable ending. Oh well, now I have to find me a pick-me-up drama.
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started strong then just dragged
Caught this drama on Youku, wasn't sure what to expect, it was one of those dramas where someone from current day gets pulled into a fantasy world simulation of some sort. As usual the CGI was quite good and on par with other dramas of this typeThe drama started strong the first 10 episodes or so kept me interested. Then the plot just started to drag, nothing really happens for 5 or 6 episodes, some of the main characters get amnesia in a big battle scene and the drama spends the next few episodes watching them trying to regain their memories. Then another main character gets amnesia, and again we spend a few episodes of them trying to regain their memories. The villains are boring and uninteresting. One of the main villains is constantly lying and yet everyone believes all of the lies being told.
It was a struggle to finish this drama and even had to fast forward through episodes to get through it. This drama probably could have been shortened by at least 10 episodes.
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You won't lose anything if you skip this one
This comment might not be your cup of tea so...beware!Honestly I have been waiting for 'love beyond the grave' and ended up getting this one first. Despite everything I tried really really hard to watch this but it is beyond me how people are going crazy for such a bizarre show. (I mean yeah...there is nothing else to watch anyways) Aurthur is pretty much what he was in 'Lighter and Princess' (I really liked that one though) just change the timeline and make it magical. This type of roles suits him and I am only watching it (to a very large extent) just because of him. His cold demeanor and charming personality goes well with this character and visual-wise he is perfect for this role. Such characters do not require mind boggling acting anyways. As for FL I have seen her only in 'I am Nobody' and I really liked her in that one. If you could deal with first two episodes of that show then you are definitely in for a treat there. She played emotionless/lazy/robot like character there and it woked pretty well. The problem in this one is that she is still giving that vibe here. It usually happens when one character is emotionally restrained the other fills that gap by being a very strong level headed or bubbly or reckless sort of character. She is none. I have heard enough about chemistry here but this much chemistry is pretty much in every single drama if we go by the same rules. There are some desparate attempts at comedy and many lovey dovey scenes but I am not sure how to continue the show when there is nothing in the story to hold my interest. Side characters are completely forgettable as well. You can almost skip all of their scenes and believe me you won't miss anything. CGI is not even worth discussing. If you want to compare it then it is pretty much 'Love between fairy and devil' all over again minus CG and music. It was my fifth attempt at it where I failed miserably to continue it further. You can give it a try if you are LBFAD or main characters' fan but it is pretty much that... don't expect anything else.
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