Till the End of the Moon (2023)

A must-watch!

I was excited when I heard the news that Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu have a reunion drama. They are my favorite Chinese CP. I was quite hesitant at first since Xianxia is really not my cup of tea. I tried watching some in the past and I can't even get past at episode 3. Lol. For me, Xianxia (or even Wuxia) is a difficult genre to understand since it's historical/fantasy and the plot is kind of overwhelming. But I still gave this a try since it's a YunLu drama.

As a first-timer, I find it quite easy to understand which is good. There were only times that I got really stressed with the plot. Their love-hate relationship is kind of frustrating at some point just because of a misunderstanding which resulted from a miscommunication (which happens almost all the time). But I must say that LY and BL's chemistry is really at par. I hope they get another drama in the future because I've been rewatching Love is Sweet for the nth time. And now I'm adding this drama to my rewatch list.

Overall, I highly recommend this drama. The casting and costumes are great, even the OSTs (I was surprised at how great all the OSTs this drama has). Give lots of love to Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu! 💕

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Nothing to complain abt the acting at all, everyone did a splendid job. Just horrible editing, CGI failing here and there unnoticeably and some production errors of small details. Which I think shouldn’t have happened of a big project like this. The editing errors got more noticeable near the end especially on ep 39 which triggered me a lot; Tantai Jin’s hand switch from right to left hand suddenly. What I love most abt this drama is BaiLu and Lou Yunxi’s portrayal. I even want to rate this 8 or 8.5 if not for their excellent portrayals and their heart wrenching story. There were many plot holes bc they had to delete or cut off many scenes💔. Li Susu as YXW changed into new, clean, luxurious and several layer outfits so easily without anyone’s help when she was traveling around alone on foot 🦶while being branded as a fugitive….. but later after many eps we saw that Chongyu can help her change but that was after she is back as Li Susi with her divine abilities but her as YXW did not have any….. Ending was also so very ughhhh🤯😫😭😮‍💨🫥🫠🥲(I don’t even kno what type of ending this is like we don’t kno what happens to Ye Qingyu, Mo Nv, Jiwu, Yue Ya(she wasn’t even there to join the fight wat da hell?!) and etc). I’m pretty sure that’s bc they had to cut off many scenes(China need to double check and make changes to their policy that’s so not beneficial for anyone)😭😭😭 so even tho the story itself and actors are all good the final result(drama) was a failure for me bc it’s not up to the standard of what the actors and the story could give. And the CGI failed here and there…they could’ve done better some of u guys should stop overrating the CGI and the drama. Yes it could’ve been as good as u guys r claiming but it’s not😭😭 LBFAD’s CGI, costumes and makeup were done better bc they didn’t have mistakes like uneven eye makeup and unflattering hairstyles. Eg the two string of fake long hair hanging out from his lower temple and Godess Li Susu’s eye makeup😭💔💔😭😭
They could’ve just aired the part two after 3 months min or yrs after fans would still watch and their drama wouldn’t be such a disappointment….. The C-biz would do much better if the productions and other entertainment staffs changed their ways and attitudes towards their work.

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An engrossing magical journey that will also bring tears to your eyes

This was a xanxia drama that I had been waiting for for quite some time and for the most part it doesn't disappoint. I'll explain this point towards the end. It is fun to binge and visually quite splendid! I'll elaborate why I loved the show as well the few areas it was lacking.

VISUALS:
Starting from the theme song, which I believe are hand painted scenery and a thing of beauty! The costumes are incredibly beautiful, detailed and luxurious. The CGI is spectacular as is the world they have created. I loved the fight scenes and was happy there was so much of action involved.

STORY:
The series has a very strong start. The world of Till The End Of The Moon has many layers and each layer is unraveled as the episodes go on. Even if you find yourself a bit lost, the show will reveal things in stages. And of course, if it still gets confusing, you can always ask all the incredible fans of the show. One thing that you should keep in mind is that there are 3 main arcs where the story is set. And each arc has it's own significance. The plot includes A LOT of suffering on the male lead's part so be prepared for angst, frustration and pain. It is also the reason why you feel attached to the character. YES THERE IS ROMANCE! I don't want to give anything away.

ACTORS:
The main leads have incredible chemistry and it is very easy to get attached to the male lead's character even though he plays the role of an anti-hero. His subtle emotions are just enough to get your attention and understand his emotions. Even though I have not seen other dramas of the male lead, this series has given me pretty good insight into his acting capabilities due to the range of the character that he had to portray and it has made me want to look into his other body of work. I also loved that the female lead in this series is a strong and determined woman who is also gentle where needed. There are so many other characters in this series and each have made this show a success. Another favourite character of mine is Pian Ran who is a crafty and jovial fox.

MUSIC:
The theme song, that is currently stuck in my head though I don't understand Mandarin is quite melodious as are many other songs in the show. I rarely notice a show's OST unless it is ACTUALLY good and this show has amazing OST that is worth looking into.

The few negatives that kept me from giving this a 10:
- Because the series was cut short, some parts of the later episodes are confusing. Not enough to lose your interest but it is still sad that there are any negative points to mention at all.
- For one part in a later episode, the editing was a little bit of a mess and I wasn't feeling it. Though it is not that important a portion. Just found it a bit funny and not up to the mark.
- There is a moment in the dream arc that I found a little confused about and it would have been nice if that was resolved a little better.
- The ending... I kind of saw it coming but I still wish it was done a bit differently. I don't regret watching the show but the ending might be controversial.

Overall, the show is sensational. It's all you will be able to think about and it will whisk you away into it's world. Give it a go and have fun!

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This is the GOLD standard for fantasy, Chinese dramas!

The headline of my review says it all. This is how you create a drama! I shamelessly skip and drop dramas like no other and NEVER leave reviews. However, I felt bad even skipping 10 seconds in this drama. That’s how AMAZING this is. If this is the standard for Chinese dramas going forward, I have no doubt Chinese entertainment will reach more international audience and become even more mainstream globally.

CASTING- 10/10 -Leo and Bailu were MADE for this drama. At first, I wasn’t sure about Leo. He was not my type when I began but i grew to LOVEEE Leo and I can’t imagine both lead roles going to anyone else. They brought the story to life and I really hope to see them in future historical/costume/fantasy dramas. The other actors and actresses were a treat to watch as well. All around applause for the casting!

Plot - 8/10. Overall, it is intriguing, original, and fast paced enough where I didn’t feel like i need to skip around like i do in other dramas (eg Ashes of love, starry love, LBFAD, etc). Thank god angsty and misunderstanding scenes were minimal and resolved quickly thanks to how intelligent how leads are. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the plot unfold even when the resolutions for sub-plots and ending somewhat disappointed me. Sure there were some loose ends and lazy details that bothered me (hair ornaments when sleeping, mysterious mortar in the forest) but it can’t be perfect, right?!

CGI/music - 10/10 - They are jaw dropping and can’t be missed/skipped even in the most annoying and angsty parts.

Scene cuts - 7/10 - The scene cuts didnt bother me too much, but some episodes felt jumpy and confusing. I wish they didn’t have to cut so much but it is what it is.

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Most beautiful and heart-wrenching c-drama I have watched

10/10 Acting. ML spoke with so much sharpness and power and authority. FL spoke with so much passion. They truly owned the role.

10/10 Costumes. They looked EXPENSIVE. Beautiful costumes. Make-up was flawless.

10/10 Top tier CGI. They truly paid attention to the details. It was so beautifully done.

10/10 Storyline. It made my heart go through a rollercoaster of emotions. Truly the anti-hero male lead that is evil and does not go soft just because of his love for FL. However it is so attractive to see him evil and love FL.

Overall, Best wuxia romance drama of the century. Beautifully done. It will be difficult to top this one.

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YES - you will empathise with the main male lead

mind-boggling acting chops - seriously, every single main and supporting cast member will make you love or hate...there is no room for indifference here
simply stunning visuals - costumes, scenery, SFX
best background music score for a xianxia ever recorded
tortured storyline that the leads keep consistent
lead female is hellbent on her mission - not a standard female character
lead male is thoroughly nuanced along a spectrum ranging from perfect insanity to absolute purity
same couple, three realms (human, dream, immortal) with each having its own internal resonance
yes - watch this. Be warned, you will not view xianxia dramas the same again.

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A metaphor to steal your heart

This drama is a gem, in my opinion the best of 2023 , hands down. An adult, mature, intriguing Chinese historical xianxia drama. Those only looking for sweetness or healthy things should refrain to watch it, and avoid it .
Here we have a totally unhealthy, toxic, abusive, negative relationship able to evolve, growing until it becomes pure, true and sincere.
it is a human story, made up of mistakes, feelings, betrayals, joy and pain. But what I love most is the concrete representation of the various characters. There is no clear distinction between good and evil, good or bad deeds. "A weapon can kill and it can also save a person". This sentence literally sums up the whole story.
Tantai Jin is an apathetic boy, who lacks any human feeling, who chooses to use demonic powers for revenge. it is Susu, as Ye Xiwu, who sets him on the right path. He is the one I preferred, without brakes, capable of total love and total hate. In the drama he has certain extent, because he is capable of anything. I loved that both in the novel and in the drama, he pushes himself to certain limits, but he always manages to stop in respect of others (as long as they are people who are close to him).
Susu is a character I love, focused on the mission, but rational and kind-hearted. She knows how to distinguish between good and evil, she knows how to understand, act and defend. She goes so far as to deny her own feelings for her mission. She knows their romance is doomed to tragedy, and she tries to cut those strings before giving up. And in the end, she will be the only one, besides the Master of Tantai Jin, who believes in him until the end.
Cang Jiumin, the "mature version" of Tantai Jin, is the other one I love deeply. He is serious, but also gallant and kind. it is Tantai Jin who has learnt how to love.
Ming Ye God of War, at an important stage in history. A tragic love that awakens Tantai Jin and Susu, but doomed to tragedy with Sang Jiu, a little sea princess with a cruel fate.
The third pair is the pure and smitten one, but it attracts a lot. The second pair is the sore point. In a tangle of reincarnations, they get worse and better. Xiao Lin becomes a negative person, while Ye Bingchang, from pure "green tea" (viper) becomes Mo Nv, a demon able to love.
Between a few happy moments, misunderstandings, betrayals, never revealed feelings and a destiny between demons and gods, history knows how to attract and catching the attention right away. Each episode builds in intensity, until the climax.
References to Daoism and Dunhuang culture are evident and widespread, the foundation of an entire culture.
In the finale, halfway between heartbreaking and pure hope, is the whole message of the story.

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A Star-Crossed Romance Spanning Centuries that Shows Us How to Truly Love the World

If you, like many others, including myself, have been looking for recent Xianxia dramas that try to sway away from the usual Cold-Immortal-ML-and-Bubbly-Clueless-Female premise, you might want to give Till the End of the Moon a try. But, there are also some catches. Let me explain.

Till the End of the Moon is a 40-episode long Xianxia romance drama adapted from the novel Hei Yue Guang Na Wen BE Ju Ben" (黑月光拿稳BE剧本), or Black Moonlight Holds the BE Script by Teng Luo Wei Zhi (藤萝为枝). Judging from the genre and novel title alone, you should already expect an angsty storyline, unlike other Xianxias, with blood-spitting and heartbreaking moments. The plot is divided into three or four arcs, depending on how you see it: The drama starts in the Immortal/Cultivation Realm but this lasts very briefly before the female lead is transported to the Mortal Realm. Later, we have the dream arc, where the leads take on the roles of different characters and live a part of their lives. Finally, both characters are back in the cultivation realm. Personally, the Mortal Arc was the most enjoyable and gripping arc for me, with many reasons that I may elaborate on later in the review. The drama was originally divided into two separate dramas but due to government restrictions on the number of episodes per drama, the episode count was capped at 40. Therefore, the episode lengths are a bit longer, averaging at around 50-55 minutes per episode. However, it seems as if there are still some scenes that did not make it into the final drama, which was a bit disappointing and made the second half of the drama feel a bit rushed.

Female lead Li Susu is tasked with the difficult and dangerous task of killing the heartless Demon God Tantai Jin. To do this, she is sent 500 years back into the past, entering the body of Ye Xiwu, the spoiled, legitimate daughter of the noble Ye family. The mortal arc of the drama was hands down my absolute favorite part of the drama. The plot was gripping and addicting, and the acting was simply the cherry on top. Tantai Jin’s masked hatred for the world begins to show as Li Susu (aka Ye Xiwu) tries to formulate a plan on how to kill this future demon god who will kill all of her loved ones and destroy the world. The pacing of the first arc was near perfect without filler scenes and any of the cliches that you would see in many other Xianxias. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to understand that Li Susu will have to kill Tantai Jin at the end, who is seemingly harmless and loveable for most of the Mortal Arc. Their romance is star-crossed lovers to the extreme, with both falling for each other but Li Susu living with the understanding that she has to kill the one she loves, or else the entire world would be destroyed.

Tantai Jin and Ye Xiwu’s relationship is slowly built up with both sweet and bitter aspects. It is clear that both of them truly care for one another but they aren’t able to completely convey their feelings. As Jin Emperor, Tantai Jin, while still harboring resentment toward those who maltreated him, is a very benevolent leader to the innocent citizens. It is simply heartwarming to see this slight change in character that is facilitated by the love and care that Ye Xiwu seems to give. However, we come to a point in the mortal arc where the relationship between the two turns to a rather toxic point, with quite a few misunderstandings. The largest fault in the drama is the lack of effective communication between the leads that could have resolved so many problems and saved so many innocent lives. But this does not overshadow the fact that the mortal arc, as well as the other arcs, had beautifully crafted scenes that not many other dramas can top.

For some, the next arc, which is set inside a dream, was a snooze fest. Essentially, the leads enter a dream where they take on the roles of a powerful immortal god and lively clam princess. I was quite invested in this arc up until the drama introduces an absolutely evil second female lead who completely destroys Ming Ye (ML) and Sang Jiu (FL)’s deserved happy ending. However, the dream arc plays a critical role in the next arc as Tantai Jin and Li Susu embody their true roles as future demon god and cultivator/immortal, respectively.

The plot transition into 500 years later is where questions start to surface and the pacing becomes a lot more rushed. Many questions were left unanswered regarding the futures of some of my favorite characters and were left unaddressed even at the very end of the drama. I enjoyed the brief, loving moments between Tantai Jin and Li Susu but the drama continues to take on the heavy star-crossed-lovers theme and stays persistent with not allowing “too” many loving scenes between the two. However, Li Susu undoubtedly changed Tantai Jin for the better, transforming him into a human with true feelings and wanting to make the world a better place. The drama gave us open endings for many side characters, which is, to say the least quite disappointing. What happened to them? Where did they go? Are they still alive? I would say that the last arc focused way too much screen time on some side characters, whereas the plot would have been a lot more intriguing and productive if more focus was put on the leads. Tantai Jin definitely deserved all the love and care.

Having watched several of Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu’s past dramas, they absolutely did not disappoint in TTEOTM in terms of acting. Both actors were able to near flawlessly show all gripping emotions, regardless of arc or scene. Demon God Tantai Jin was absolutely badass and evil while mortal Tan Taijin in the Ye Manor was a pitiful young man who thought he had lost everything. The way Luo Yunxi’s veins popped almost convinced me that he was actually experiencing excruciating pain, and the contrasting looks of endearing and being betrayed were evidently and effectively conveyed through his facial emotions. On the other hand, Bai Lu’s Li Susu was a caring daughter, loving ‘wife’ to Tantai Jin, and a responsible figure with the difficult task of ‘saving the world’. She delightfully surprised me with her acting in her scenes seeking revenge, filled with absolute hatred and persistence. As with their previous drama Love is Sweet, Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu worked amazingly with one another and their chemistry was once again extremely natural and appealing to the audience.

I absolutely adored side characters Pian Ran and Ye Qingyu. At first, they seemed like an unlikely couple but this pairing slowly grew on me. Pian Ran and Ye Xiwu had, hands down, the best sismance ever. Sun Zhenni as Pian Ran brought out an inexplicably unique but refreshing aura and her romance with Ye Qingyu, acted by Geng Yeting, was subtle yet heartwarming. On the other hand, Chen Duling absolutely ate up her role as seemingly innocent Ye Bingchang, then as the evil Tian Huan, and the demon Mo Nv. She totally embodied the absolute evilness of her characters to the point where I can’t stand to see her in the drama anymore. Bravo to her. Deng Wei also acts out his multiple personalities and characters very well.

Other minor characters were also essential to producing a well-rounded drama. While TTEOTM lacked in some areas of the plot and editing, Wang Yifei’s evil Si Ying as well as Zhang Zhixi’s Chu Huang and Tantai Jin’s immortal master, to name a few, were essential characters that the actors embodied quite well.

Production-wise, aside from the editing due to government regulations, the cinematography was impressive, and the costumes were gorgeous. The drama experimented a lot with different character styles and used brilliantly-colored costumes on many characters, which is something that we don’t see very often in the Xianxia genre. The hairstyles were intricately done and all slightly differed depending on the setting and character. The magical effects were also quite natural and pleasing to the eye, and the lighting of some scenes in particular really added to the quality of the drama.

As with many other dramas, Till the End of the Moon started off on a very strong note and slightly dwindled down as it approached the ending. However, this does not dismiss the very strong scenes scattered throughout the drama, the high production quality, amazing acting, and beautiful costumes that, combined, created a very nice drama experience overall. Although many questions were left unanswered and some parts of the drama seemed rushed of unnecessary, do consider giving TTEOTM a shot if you’re looking for another evil ML sort of Xianxia with awesome acting, impressive CGI, and beautiful costumes. The extensive and gorgeous OST is also a plus!

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Epic & Revolutionary 2023 Cdrama?

Well our immortal disciple li Susu travels to past with a ton of hatred towards our ml then envisioning his conditions she begins to understand and fall in love with him 💗. After a series of misunderstandings and her a load of responsibility to save humanity she kills him in each his life time but then again she seals the evil bone in her body to not let tantai jin bear the burden of devil fetus that is his fate to be a vessel of devil god 😈 to incarnate. After her death his begins to search our goddess for 500 yrs like in the drama immortal samsara where heroine lingers in the river of forgetting for 500 yrs here it is mohe river. At last he is saved a immortal master and then meets li Susu decides to get killed by her to completely destroy evil bone, the root of hatred.

It is a heartwrenching story of the pitiable past of the devil god who had gone through all the adversities in the human realm suffering hell for decades and trying to fight against the fate he was born with. As for our Susu her sole existence is to end the devil god however her love for him is neverending nice cast visual fx music and story 💗💗💗 what a revolutionary drama it is in 2023 to quench our thist for hunger of dramas

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My kind of favorite drama - beautiful yet angsty

As a xianxia romance drama, as expected, TTEOTM will contain multiple realms, misunderstandings, reincarnation, a war between god and evil, powerful beings, etc. But what makes TTEOTM stand out from the rest for me is their superb acting, beautiful sets, exquisite costumes, and enticing plot.
The acting is S++ for the main leads. This is the second drama with Bai Lu and Luo Yunxi partnering (before they did the romance office drama Love is Sweet). Their chemistry is crazy, and make-believe says they are in love. There isn't any stone-faced kiss, the kiss looks real. They portray every sweet moment really well. Because they're enemies to lovers, you will see a lot of hateful stares, manipulation, lies, and intentions to kill each other.
Bai Lu is really good at intense situations like when she loses all hope (sadness and rage), almost dies, turns evil, and gets badly hurt. She portrays four characters: Li Susu, Li Susu turned Ye Xiwu, the original Ye Xiwu, and Sang Jiu. Every character is done well, but my favorite is Li Susu, she puts her mission above all and is willing to sacrifice for people (even when she sometimes doesn't see through the situations).
Luo Yunxi is phenomenal. He portrays the Ancient/Original Demon God, the Second Demon God, Tantai Jin as the hostage prince, Tantai Jin as the Jing King, the God of War Ming Ye, Cang Jiumin, and Tantai Jin as the Demon God. Every character is distinguishable, and even the small movements and aura are different. You can tell who the character is just by his eyes. He really brings his A game to the table. He is well-rounded in every emotion, and he is really good at playing the microexpression. It's perfect, I can't imagine another person playing TTJ. This is the role that was made for him. My favorite is the Ancient Demon God, he reminded me of Darkling, handsome, sexy, evil, and powerful. But the most memorable is the hostage prince, he seems weak and harmful, but he is manipulative and acts like a kid.
Other cast members are also really good, especially the senior actors like their masters, Jize and Chuhuang. I don't find bad acting, even the newcomers like Sun Zenni and Deng Wei are good and suitable.
The sets are so beautiful, grand, and majestic. It really takes you to another realm. The gods realm with Dunhuang style is so dreamy, the demon realm is dark and scary, the immortal sect is so relaxing with peaceful rainforest and lake, the Mohe Clam River is a cute aesthetic undersea kingdom with a lot of pearl decoration, and the Jing kingdom is lavish with phenomenal landscaping. The CGI for the sets is excellent, and you won't see it again until now.
You also won't find the basic costume, like wearing white if you're a god or black if you're a demon. It's unique, has its own style, and matches the set and character. The gods wear a Dunhuang style that is so colorful. Every character changes costumes multiple times. I even lost count of how many times the main leads change costumes, which is a lot. Every costume is so detailed, with a lot of pattern, various embroidery, and different fabrics and materials. The headpiece is also beautiful and regal. As a sequin dress lover, I really like Li Susu's pink sequin dress, it's so lovely and dreamy. For the headpiece, I love Sang Jiu's pearly accessories.
The plot is tight and fast-paced, you don't want to skip a scene. If you really like enemies to lovers or time travel plots, this will suit your taste. I think the most interesting is how the main lead is an antihero, so sometimes their action is unexpected.
What I also like are their action scenes, they're really cool and well coordinated. The music is suitable, my favorite ost is Mysterious Bird. They also have a lot of unique makeup and cute hairstyles. About the CGI, sometimes it is really good and screams expensive, but sometimes it is messy. Also, sometimes the sequence is not right and I feel glitchy, but it's acceptable.
Only two things that I don't like make me rate this drama 9.5, not 10. First, their editing is messy. I know the problems are because they cut a lot of scenes. It was supposed to be 58 episodes, but they cut it to 40. It makes the flow too jumpy, a lot of conversation is cut, and the dubbing is not matching. It also makes the plot hole worse because important scenes get cut. Second, the ending is bad, there is no further explanation after TTJ perishes, what happens with the others, will TTJ get reincarnated? It is rushed, even though I love EP 40 because it is sad and beautiful. They should add one episode for a proper ending and not do random things.
In conclusion, I really love this drama mainly because of the leads, Yunxi and Lulu, the aesthetic, and the plot. I really love to see if they have a special episode or release a cut scene. My biggest hope is that they will release the director's cut with 50+ episodes without messy editing.
By the way, I'm still sad and still have puffy eyes, but I won't move on from this drama and will rewatch it later. I'm also waiting for YunLu's third drama, whatever the genre is, I will be seated because they are my favorite CP in C-Dramalands right now.

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Ending is kind of hurried

In the book version the ending is very good, you can feel the pain, suffering and all the people and friends gets to know the good side/sacrifice of the main lead but here in drama it all went very fast and you can't feel the same kind of emotional connection you feel in the start or mid of the story. They should make a special episode to make it clearer. But still it's okay.

Rewatch value 10/10
They should make a special episode to give clarity on what happens to devil realm, what happens to the immortals who kind of died and how he sacrificed his life to save everyone. In book it's clearly written but here . 😔

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