Very painful romance but I have no regrets
I was hesitant about picking up this one because I had heard that there was lots of drama and angst in the story, but I saw it being recommended too many times (and I saw Bai Lu being praised all around A LOT), so I had to watch it and make an opinion for myself.The story is about Tantai Jin, the demon lord who is destined to bring chaos to the world, and Li Susu, the immortal who witnesses the destruction brought by Tantai Jin and travels 500 years back in time to prevent his rise to power. What Li Susu doesn't expect is to be reincarnated as Tantai Jin's wife, and Tantai Jin to be a mortal who is hated and mistreated by everyone. Just like that, Ye Xiwu's plan becomes more complicated: she has to find a way to neutralize Tantai Jin's evil core, but she also needs to make sure he doesn't die in the meantime.
The story flows very nicely. There is a lot going on, but the pace is not too fast and it allows to follow all the events well without getting confused, all without ever needing to slow down too much. There's also a very good balance between the dramatic plot elements and the more fun, romantic, and fluffy ones, which was a huge relief to me.
The cast was amazing all around, with very likeable characters and great villains as well. I was impressed by the ML the most for his performance as Tantai Jin: he was able to portray a very complex character, managing to show warmth and coldness as needed without it ever feeling unnatural. I've seen a good amount of anti-hero protagonists, but this is one of the few who were actually unsettling to me, in the best way possible!
The quality of the production was very high, with special effects that never looked out of place nor overdone. The OST also matches the core moments of the drama and enhances them very well.
I can't lie, the story made me suffer a lot. There's lots of moments that made my heart ache for the characters, and after almost 40 episodes I was starting to feel a little tired from all the heartbreaks I had to watch. Despite this, I enjoyed this story and its characters a lot, and I can easily recommend it to any fan of the Xianxia genre.
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Mixed feelings
Story: It is an intriguing story. Fast paced, enemies to lovers trope to the max. Although it's a repetition from some dramas in the past, but some points in the story are fresh. The struggling mind of the MC about his identity is very intense which made me feel emphatic for him. And his passionate love for his lover is very pitiful yet infuriating. In the middle episodes, I felt a little bit dragging, but some of romantic scenes from side characters are fun. And the ending felt rush in explanation yet too much repetitive scenes.Acting: This was the most part that gave me mixed feelings. I admire Leo Luo and Bai Lu's acting, they really can act well as the MCs. The character's depth emotions are portrayed excellently, especially with Leo's eyes expression. But I can't feel the chemistry between them. I can't feel the love and the hate from their interactions. It's very different from the drama when they first collaborated. The productions also have some good and bad parts. The visual is very much pleasing, specially the costumes and CGI. However some scenes were illogical because the costumes was too grand for the setting. At last, I found the editing was the big disappointment for this lush drama, to the point that it feels not coherent despite they already have many benefits from visual and acting.
Overall: I recommended this drama if you like character driven story. The character development is very enjoyable and Leo played it emotionally heartbreaking.
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Born to destruction or salvation?
TILL THE END OF THE MOON: A Tragedy of Fate and ChoiceWatching this drama was a profoundly moving experience; I found myself suffering right alongside the main characters. While the plot is utterly captivating, it is also a relentless journey through pain and sadness. The story leads to a tragic conclusion: that sincere, wholehearted love would have been the salvation, far superior to the path of destruction advised by the agitators. Had pure love been given a chance, it wouldn't have ended in disaster. The drama poignantly suggests that we are all born as blank pages, our stories written by the hands of life and experience. No one is born evil—they are made that way. But this leaves us with a haunting question: in the end, will evil ultimately prevail?
BORN TO DESTRUCTION OR SALVATION?
Tantai Jin's birth was a tragedy itself; his mother died bringing him into the world, leaving him cursed. Though a prince, he was sentenced to death by his own father, exiled to a derelict palace, and later sold as a hostage. He never learned deeper emotions because no one ever showed him any. Abuse, beatings, and humiliation were his daily bread, yet a desperate longing for love and recognition still flickered within him. This created a constant, brutal war inside him: the desire for love versus the thirst for revenge. When love finally did arrive, one must ask—was it a blessing, or just another form of sorrow?
THE ENDING
To truly grasp the story's depth, you must watch every single episode with full attention. Skipping even a part will leave you unprepared for the final two episodes and the motivations behind Tantai Jin's actions. The ending is heart-wrenching, yet in its context, it is perfectly logical and inevitable. I was truly heartbroken and couldn't stop the flow of tears. (Whether I'm just too sensitive or the tragedy of this story is simply that powerful, I cannot say.)
LUO YUNXI'S PERFORMANCE
Before watching, I encountered criticisms of Luo Yunxi regarding his appearance (including his height) and voice. I must state that I completely disagree—he was absolutely perfect for this role. His gentle voice, delicate features, and those large, expressive eyes perfectly captured the character's complex nature. He was particularly outstanding in portraying Tantai Jin's dark side. I read that Luo Yunxi lost a significant amount of weight for the role, which served the story well, but at times he looked alarmingly thin, almost as if suffering from anorexia. It was a terrifying sight in some photos, and I'm genuinely glad he regained his health afterward.
MAIN CHARACTERS & CHEMISTRY
The chemistry between Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu is as electric as ever. Having adored them in "Love Is Sweet," it was a delight to see them share the screen again. Their deep, meaningful gazes and their tender yet intense kisses make their on-screen relationship utterly compelling and believable.
COSTUMES & MUSIC
I usually don't pay much attention to costumes in wuxia dramas, as they often feel similar. Here, it was different—the character outfits are truly amazing. The scenery of the Devil's Palace, in my opinion, seems inspired by the art of Zbigniew Beksiński (if you're unfamiliar with his work, I highly recommend looking it up), and it made a huge impression on me. The music is also a standout, with its use of rock guitars instead of traditional, sweet Chinese melodies, which perfectly complements the story's dark and epic tone.
DO I RECOMMEND THIS DRAMA?
Yes, wholeheartedly. But be prepared to engage with it deeply. A casual viewing misses the entire point. This is not a light or pleasant drama about the romance of the main characters; it is a heavy, thought-provoking tragedy that demands and deserves your full emotional and intellectual investment.
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I'll miss them by the way
For who want to watch it, this is my experience of their amazing world:Okay, I just finished it and I don't know what to do with my life now. I lived with them for 40 episodes, I laughed with their happiness and cried with their sorrows.
I once thought this drama became famous for nothing! No matter what they do, they can't keep a story interesting for 40 episodes, but now I really regret not watching this drama sooner.
This was a nice one, but you know, it's one of those that requires a lot of patience to watch. Because you might get hurt because of the ending, the misunderstandings, the sorrows, the problems that haven't ended yet, start again. My heart is still broken from watching it.
Story: 8.5/10
The actors/actresses showed their best. The way they looked, their facial expressions, their voices that changed depending on the situation, their smiles, everything was perfect. You won't regret it. The chemistry between the main couple is great. (And I became a fan of Bai Lu after this, she's so pretty.)
Acting: 10/10
Speaking of OST, to be honest, the night I finished the drama and I wanted to sleep, for a few days ater that, the songs kept playing in my head and I felt nostalgic. They are unforgettable and sad at the same time.
OST: 10/10
I don't think I want to watch it for the first time and feel this sadness again(I don't like this feeling, I can't stand it.) but I'll rewatch the good feeling parts.
Of course that hurt my heart but was still worth watching.
Rewatch value: 8/10
And now.. it's hard to forget them. Really hard. And for all good feeling that the main couple gave to me, it should be 10/10 :))
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It doesn’t get better than Until the end of the moon!
This is one of the best shows I’ve ever watched , nothing can top it. Amazing acting , storyline , visuals. Everything about this show is just insane & no matter how many times I watch it it always keeps my attention and has me in awe or crying the whole time. Bai Lu and Luo Yunxi really made these characters come to life in the best way possible , their faces always perfectly depict every emotion , even the tiniest change is seen and felt. The whole crew did such an amazing job piecing everything from storyline to costumes , visuals , acting , music , scenery etc together. Almost every major and even minor character was memorable in their own way & that says a lot about the whole production of the show and the actors.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This drama is not for the weak hearted
Before I say anything, I wanna mention that I already wrote an entire review when I was on episode 26. I think I wrote down at least 7 things I didn’t like and they were entire paragraphs too… Now I just finished the series like 20 minutes ago and I am only left with 1 of those 7 points. The only negative thing I have left to say about this series is the following:In the story they made use of a lot of magical terminology of course. Some things they do not explain, they just throw it in there, suddenly certain characters possess a new power that is never explained, but this is common in historical cdrama’s so that’s not even my point. Sometimes it’s clearly stated that a certain character can not do a certain action. For example in the very first episodes the FL herself declared she couldn’t fly because she was now in a mortal body. Then some episodes later she suddenly can, like??? I just wish they would be a little bit more consistent with these kind of things. I know this is normal for cdrama’s but I had higher expectations since this drama is from 2023.
So what did I like…..
- The rest of the story: In my first review, I had mentioned several times that the story wasn’t well excecuted, I take all of that back, everything was planned perfectly and fell right into place, even though 70% of the story was just pure sadness, it was all necessary. Precisely because of that, the romance hit even harder. This might have been the most edging enemies to lovers I have ever watched. It was so painful and frustrating to watch to the point that it was so good, the angst… the angst guys….
- What really carried through for me was the ML, I felt so so so much pity for the ML, he is so loveable and seeing him getting mistreated, it really does do something to you as a viewer. If it was possible to make a list of your favorite characters on MDL, I would definitely put Tantai Jin in my top 3.
- The side couple was also very good. I always see people saying that they enjoyed the side couple more than the original ones in a lot of drama’s but I never agree because I find them pretty boring. I can’t say that I enjoyed the side couple of this cdrama more than the original couple BUT this is the first time I actually really enjoyed all of the screen time of the side couple and wished I could have even seen more of them.
- Screentime distribution: what I loooooved also is that there was no unnecessary screen time for the side characters and the side story. The amount of screen time the antagonist had was minimalized to the perfect amount. The reason why I usually can’t binge series is because of the screen time mostly, I want to see as much of the protagonists/leads as possible and you saw a lot of it in this cdrama.
- Make up and clothes were phenomenal, I saw a review that said it was too much but I think it was perfect.
Side notes
- Tissue rate: 5/5 this story was so sad guys, I can’t even explain how it broke me mentally, I was constantly tearing up and cried multiple times because of the constant miscommunication and the pain that was portrayed, the acting was really good. Tantai Jin's character was executed perfectly. I have never in my life seen a character that was THIS devoted to his lover, just because of that fact I cried 3 times in episodes 29. Its disgustingly good how much it hurts.
- Binge rate 5/5 unexpectedly I found myself wanting to binge everything, I was up several nights until 4am…. Usually I always dread watching the last episodes of any drama because it gets so predictable and boring, but with this drama I purposely postponed watching the last 2 episodes because I just didn’t wanna finish it and I wasn’t ready for the heart ache that was to come.
- Emotional damage rate 5/5 yeah….. I will just laugh this one off.
This cdrama has left me mentally devastated and abused. I need to be in intensive care for at least 5 days with 24/7 supervision to even have a chance to recover from this. Additionally to that, I think I need to be admitted to a psychiatric ward for 3 days, surrounded by specialists, just to be able to function even slightly normally again in society.
- I have rated several dramas with a 10, they were all great obviously (hence the 10) but I’d forget about it after a month because they did not have that wow factor that makes me reminisce about it. I just finished TTEOTM but I think I will keep thinking of this drama for a long time, it definitely had an impact on me and therefore a special place. It was truly bittersweet and probably the most tragic love story I have ever watched. I even cried myself to sleep once, I think it was after episode 29.....
- Favorite episodes: 35 and 40
Bawled my eyes out in episode 40 from 39:29 till 41:00. The music (Immortal bird) in this specific scene was my favorite soundtrack from the whole series. It was the perfect choice for this scene and enhanced everything all the more.
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Acting and CGI par excellence...Luo Yunxi stands out!
For me it is actually between 9.5 and a 10.First, the choice of actors is amazing, it seems they were meant to do these roles. The fact that Luo Yun Xi used his own voice made a hell lot of a difference. His micro-expressions are phenomenal and he has portrayed all 4 characters effortlessly. You can actually feel subtle differences in his acting. Bai lu does justice to her role and was an apt choice. Their chemistry is so easy and effortless and amazing. However, the character build up of Li Susu is not as great as that of Tantai Jin.
Second, the CGI is point on! One of the best I have seen till date in Chinese dramas. you get hooked on to it and just do not feel like skipping. Kudos to the production team. They have done an excellent job in bringing everything together and have justified all production costs.
Third, the storyline moves fast in many areas, which is rare in Chinese dramas. So, that was a welcome change. The storyline does drag a bit between Ep 30-35, but picks up again.
I had just finished watching Love between Fairy and Devil and was not in a mood to watch another similar Chinese fantasy drama. But this got me hooked from Ep 1 mainly because of the par excellent acting of the main leads and the Visual FX.
I have already seen it three times and can watch again. Also, this one made Luo Yun Xi earn a lifelong fan!
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My Favorite Drama of All Time
I loved this series. It's my favorite among historical/wuxia Chinese dramas. Till the End of the Moon gripped me from start to finish: a grand tragic romance that plays with reincarnations, the struggle between fate and free will, and a beautifully handled redemption arc. The production is sumptuous: immersive sets, carefully crafted costumes, and clear, emotionally driven choreography. The OST perfectly underscores the key moments, gentle when needed and poignant in decisive scenes, and the cinematography gives the drama a strong visual identity.Bai Lu is incredible. She carries multiple identities with an impressive acting range, including gentleness, resolve, vulnerability, and restrained anger. Everything is nuanced and sincere. Her gaze speaks as much as the dialogue, and her alchemy with her partner makes every confrontation memorable. She conveys the character's evolution without ever overplaying it. A truly standout performance.
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This review may contain spoilers
I liked it, but
Hooo boyyyyy this is the longest drama review I've ever written, the note in my notes app has seen all my rants lol. Now, that I finally finished it, I'll boil everything I've noted down.First of all, I think this drama should come with a trigger warning for triggering topics like bullying, feeling of abandonment, loneliness and depression (also abuse). Honestly, if my struggling younger self would watch this, it would cause me a serious spiraling down.
TL;DR and don't want to get spoiled review: I think the storyline along with the topics have a great potential to discover more and it wasn't fully there for me. Truly outstanding acting, very beautiful costumes and really good CGI. Could've been made into more episodes.
Small spoilers ahead:
I've been waiting so long for this drama to air (didn't we all). I'm one of the few people who didn't come to watch for Bai Lu and Luo Yunxi (such a gorgeous man). I came because of Xiao Shunyao. I'm very much conflicted on this drama. While I absolutely loved the base storyline and the topics of time travel, butterfly effect, alternative storylines, changing personalities, character development, even the psychology level, I just disliked a good part of the storyline. I liked it until ep 20, eps 21 - 29 were just "what...is happening, you're losing me here" and I then watched pretty much only to see how it will end. Ep 30 gave me hope again, I liked how the storylines intertwined there, it felt complete. But the end of that episode made me afraid again. Episode 35 would've been such a great season finale, especially when a second season was planned. If the producers would have cut it here, then it would have been a good drama in my eyes. Buuut as tradition follows, I knew exactly that the writers are going to turn tides in the last 5 episodes completely and come back with a tsunami to hit the viewer right into the gut. 17 minutes into ep 36 the sh!t started to go down (do we always need such gut wrenching turn of events and so many deaths? I guess we do, just not my cuppa tea). Ep 39 just further cemented my opinion that this drama had THE potential to discover alternative storylines, dreams, different realities, like holy moly this episode was so good?? This energy should've been throughout the drama. Is it someone dreaming? Is it a main story? Is this someone's Bo're Life? That, my friends, is the potential I see in this type of story and prompt and it just wasn't fully there in my opinion.
Why I am conflicted on this drama: I mean, the storylines had their logic, it was clear where they were coming from but also not at the same time. I'm not going to go into much detail, to not spoil everything. What I was conflicted about (let's say contradictory statements and deeds in general) was resolved and explained in the last two episodes. Also sidenote, idk if I got it correctly, but the ep where Sang Jiu came to get her wedding night from Ming Ye, left quite a bad taste in my mouth, especially since she silenced him.... ?? raising my eyebrows
I don't want to end on a bad note, so here are I things I liked - Pian Ran x Ye Qingyiu storyline - perfect. Of course that I loved Xiao Shunyao as the evil brother, I think that the writers could've given this storyline more screen time, because we had a serious potential here (I felt that it was way too side storyish). At first, I loathed Ye Bing Chang/Mo Nv with every ounce of my being but in the end?? Mo Nv turning her character was very great development, I liked that. And of course, Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu are truly outstanding actors. Great applause for acting for everyone, in general. I nearly cried along with Luo Yunxi at the end.
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This review may contain spoilers
Tantai Jin is ?
*** Spoiler Alert (PERSONAL FEEDBACK)Title : Till The End Of The Moon (Complete 40 Episodes)
Personal Rating : 8.5/10
Tantai Jin | Cang Jiu Min | Ming Ye (played Luo Yun Xi)
Li Su Su | Ye Xi Wu | Sang Jiu (Played Bai Lu)
This is my first drama of Bai Lu and and Luo Yun Xi. Actually, I dropped this drama once and I didn’t plan to watch it since I already know from some post and spoilers that someone will die but I didn’t know who. And it is not a happy ending but since it was a talk of the town for a long time, I tried to watch it again and it was okay.😊
Honestly, TTEOTM is not for me. It was not my cup of tea or my kind of drama that I will enjoy watching happily.😅 The endless suffering, sacrifices, betrayal, misfortunes, revenges, and pain are not for me. I cannot handle it because it pains me and breaks my heart too. And that it one of the reasons why I don’t watch sad dramas. 😆 There was love, comedy and romance in this drama but it is more on sad story than a happy one. I think my favourite scene is the Bo’re life only. I don’t have anything against the story and characters. To be honest it was well written drama. It is for the viewers who can handle endless heartache.😁
For the characters, I like Tantai Jin because even from all the misfortunes that he had in his life he still chooses to love and be kind till the end. ❤️ And I like Immortal Zhaoyou, the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect who becomes Tantai Jin's mentor because even he knows that he is a jinxed from the start he still trusts, educate, and protect Tantai Jin. 💙
For Ye Xiwu, sometimes I like her sometimes I dislike her because he kept on using and fooling Tantai Jin coz she knows Tatai Jin loves her and will accept her whatever she does. Well, that is my opinion only. We have different opinions and understanding so you can always disagree with me.😁 For Gongye Jiwu, I don’t know what’s wrong with him on the last few episodes. He was blinded by hatred or something.
Overall, I rate this drama 8.5/10. It was okay for me even the ending was okay. They are meant not to be together anyway even they love each other. And its not a sad ending for me coz till the end Tatai Jin love Susu and vice versa.😍 I think TTEOTM has one of the best CGI’s for me. It was wow! 😲 It looks so goooood specially the spirit gods. 🤩The chemistry of the leads are great too! And salute to Luo Yun Xi, he is freaking good! 👏👏👏 He embodied the character of Tatai Jin so well. He is one the best actor who played a Devilish character! Well done! ❤️👏😍
OST – Only You by Shuang Sheng ( one of the happy songs )😁
GENRE – Romance, Wuxia, Fantasy, Costume
LEAD CAST – Luo Yun Xi, Bai Lu
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There's no born Villain
Drama that blends elements of fantasy, romance, and intrigue. The story revolves around a compelling love that defies time and challenges, featuring a richly developed plot that keeps you engaged from start to finish.The chemistry between the leads is electric, bringing depth to their emotional journey as they navigate trials and tribulations. The male lead's character is complex, showcasing strength and vulnerability, while the female lead embodies resilience and determination. Their relationship is beautifully portrayed, filled with moments of passion, sacrifice, and growth.
Visually, the drama is stunning, with impressive cinematography and breathtaking costumes that immerse you in its fantastical world. The soundtrack complements the story perfectly, enhancing the emotional resonance of key scenes.
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