This review may contain spoilers
Finally finished watching shen li.... The 2nd chance see Zhao Li Ying & Lin Gèng Xin in a drama together. First time they announced the couple I (We) already so excited about the drama, feel like the second season of the impossible Princess Agent. But this drama far far away from the Princess Agent, in term of plot / genre / etc, and nevertheless the pairing of Zhao Li Ying & Lin Gèng Xin still as perfect as I (we) hope for. Haha...This drama open with Shen Li (SL) fight against her people for her freedom from unwanted marriage. Injured & escape to mortal realm she's transformed into her original form, Phoenix, and rescued by mortal named Xing Yun. Later, we found out that the mortal turn out to be the one and only remaining almighty True god, Xing Zhi (XZ). And the story about the forbidden love between the True god & other god begin....
Me all this time watch all the Xian Xia drama, never really understand why god can't falling in love or have any relationship with anyone, expecially if u one special god like XZ, or like Dong Hua in Eternal Love of Dream. But from this drama i think i can understand a little bit reasoning behind that rule. With special feeling for someone, comes special treatment, but unfortunately the god like XZ can't only treat someone special, he had to treat all the creation equal. One heavy burden to put on someone shoulder....
What i like:
+ The fiery chemistry between Zhao Li Ying & Lin Gèng Xin. Really one of the best paired in dramaland.
+ Unlike any other Xian Xia drama, where the almighty god will try to hide their feeling for someone special but silently protect them, XZ finally dare to openly protect SL.
+ The unpredictable plot twist about the main villain. Really shock when I found out who they set up to be the villain, or to be said the true identity of the villain.
+ The fiercely FL. SL is one of the FL that so brave & have the power to do so.
+ They give us a little preview of actually how XZ is so lonely & have heavy burden.
Overall this one of best Xian Xia ever... Never bored watching this from begin to the end. With interesting plot, fiery chemistry & good costume. All budget is place appropriately.. Haha...
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One of the best fantasy dramas ever
It's so into detail and makes sure you anticipate for the next episode. Zanila Zhao is such a wonderful actress together with the main ml ......just wow😍😍from the start I new this was going to be nice but damn It keeps adding fuel. I am obsessed. Can't say it's my first but definitely going to the list of my favorites.Was this review helpful to you?
Beginner friendly to xianxia drama
Honestly if u have watched many xianxia drama there's nothing new in this drama, so if you watch this for the plot you might get disappointed. HOWEVER, if you wanna watch great acting with visual ofc (seasoned actors here), something light, easy to understand yet entertaining you will love this drama.Was this review helpful to you?
When the budget is budgeting
Xianxia isn't a low budget genre since it needs to use a lot of cgi and for that exact reason, i believe it needs time to cook during post production. Yes, i don't mind to wait.Yu Feng Xing not only serving with it good cgi but i'm on my knees for their costume. Every style is on point and the last time i feel like this was for TTEOTM Mingye-Sangjiu arc with its dunhuang style.
Plot wise, this isn't your typical xianxia. Though the reason i love this genre is because the big ANGST sign, i actually enjoy it more since recent xianxia focus more on pain and forget to let us take a break in between the torture, so appreciate every comic relief scene and character. The chemistry between character is good and amidst the slow burn discourse, it's not that bad because i found it's not wasted. The slow building makes every character relatable and show enough charm instead of rushing the breaking point.
I wanna say this could be my number 1 xianxia this year yet it's only April. Tho it doesn't really matter since my pick from last year is TTEOTM lol. Hope you enjoy it as much as i am.
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Great acting with amazing CGI and OST
I will go straight to the review instead of writing poetic lines. I started watching Legends of Shen Li hoping it to be another cliched Xianxia drama. But it went beyond my expectation. The visual effects was a feast to the eyes. I will go one step ahead and say Legend of Shen Li should be the benchmark for other C-dramas. Chemistry was really "chemistrying". The OST made me think this tune could be my ringtone. You could feel the melody and it complimented the story very accurately.
The overall pace was good. There was nothing which felt unnecessary or has been added to drag the story. The switch from mortal to immortal and divine realm was also quite natural.
Should you watch Legend of Shen Li?
Yes, you must. If you are bored from the usual Xianxia, this drama will make you re-like the genre.
Here's what I liked:
-CGI is amazing. This is the kind of CGI I expect in every Xianxia drama.
-Chemistry hits off differently. The little moments like ShenLi stealing one glance of Xingzhi in the market was implemented very naturally.
-Apart from the two leads, other characters have been cast perfectly. I have read the novel and I can say confidently that this is how I imagined everyone to be.
-Comedy scenes are genuinely funny.
-Good character development. You can feel how Xingyun and Xingzhi are different.
What I didn't like:
-Cannot think of anything except for the sometimes stiff acting of the male lead.
One thing about this drama. You will be too immersed in the main leads' interaction. I actually forgot they were acting.
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This review may contain spoilers
Loved it. The leads are surprisingly gentle and humorous.
The first 7 episodes flew away like a breeze. I do like the dynamics between the 2, but it seems like Shen Li was the only one to catch feelings during Xing Yun while was affectionate didn't seem to be that interested in her. Even when she was gone he lived his life very well, maybe missed her once in a while, but was not deeply moved by her leaving or even the idea of her marrying someone else. Even when he returned to the heavenly realm, he seemed as indifferent so far. Apart from mentioning that Shen Li was interesting he didn't intend to pursue her.Ep 8 to 16: She finally meets Divine Lord Xing Zi, who denies he knows Xing Yun, hearing which she sheds tears to which the divine lord is unmoved. He then insists on spending time with her. The Poor girl is busy scouting the place while the Divine Lord is taking a leisurely stroll in the garden.
The Divine Lord finally clears up that he didn't intend to spend time with her but it was to clean her miasma that he had to take her along. When she talks about him resembling an old acquaintance. He brushes it off saying its common and that she shouldn't get too attached to things or people. He then follows her to the demon realm and claims he needs to stay for fun and wants to live at her place. He then shows a teeny bit of what you could call jealousy when Shen Li's betrothed shows up. The one that divine lord himself picked.
Gotta love Shen Li, in ep 14, she finally decided to put everything out there and then kindly told him to go fuck himself. What's even wrong with the guy, he can't even sort out his own feelings and continues to mess with her, following her around everywhere just rejecting her left and right and still bombarding her with those mixed signals.
In ep 16, we get too see them work together, Shen Li gets hurts and we actually see Divine lord get mad for the first time. First green signal telling us that he does care for her. It is nice to see him hold her sweetly nursing her back to health.
ep 16 to 39: Wow this was very slow burn, they finally got together in episodes 30-31, when they do get together it is amazing!
What I like the most about this drama is that the leads don't betray each other and are loyal. There are never any misunderstanding or other man or woman they have to pretend to love in order to protect each other. So, i'll be putting this on my rewatch list.
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A chicken parading as a phoenix
I was really looking forward to Shen Li as I have really enjoyed this author’s works and I’ve loved all of ZLY’s performances.There were several touching moments in the beginning of the show - I was very moved by the story of the soldier and the wife - it was beautifully done and the actors who played the part did so phenomenally. Kudos to them. I enjoyed the idea of cluck cluck and the sickly man, and was moved when that arc came to an end. Shen Li revisited the place she had lived for a short time of her life, it was poignant and sad. One cannot return to the past as it stands on its own.
That being said, I have mixed feelings about this show overall.
I know it’s an unpopular opinion but this show became extremely slow and boring. Often the show felt as though it was catering to fans of Princess Agents who were left stranded with its lacklustre ending. Yes, the two leads have good chemistry but chemistry can’t make up for a paper thin plot that should have kept to 25 episodes or fewer. Most xianxias have a lot happening, even if they are common tropes and this one was excruciating slow with this draggy plot. The novel works because the FL’s narration and feelings carry it through.
Yet, not all literary techniques are well translated into film/the visual medium and this show is a good example of that. Shen Li’s voice overs were overused in the early part of the show and often they seemed to deny secondary characters agency.
As I finished the show I felt quite frustrated that secondary characters were not fully developed nor was enough time spent on them. For a 39 episode show secondary characters are paramount. The marriage arc went on forever and ever.
In the end i was left wondering- what happened to Shen Li’s father? Why didn’t she even think about him. It just happened. Mo Fang’s dying scene was quite sad- I pitied him, despite his faults, he did try to protect her. He was left there, without a glance from Shen Li or a final farewell. What an unfortunate character, which Shen Li herself observes.
What happened to Mo Fang’s father? What really was the point of the story? Why did Shen Li fall in love with Xingyun?
The acting was not the problem at all. I found Kenny Lin’s performance here to be among his best. The idea of the lonely ancient god was interesting and Kenny Lin expressed his loneliness well. His crying scene with Zhao Liying towards the end was very good. I really enjoyed the rest of the actors who did the best with whatever they had. Fu Rong Jun has the most character growth and he became one of my favourite characters. I enjoyed the actor’s performance. Jackie Li was great as usual but had limited screen time. I looked forward to seeing the siblings (and those were the parts I watched without skipping).
The music was good overall without the usual xianxia angst. I did not enjoy the xianxia angst when I watched my first xianxia but that’s what I appreciate these days.
Perhaps I had great expectations from the show but for me it was too slow, too thin with its plot. I think some Chinese shows should stick to shorter episodes. Quantity isn’t quality after all. A chicken should not pass for a phoenix. There's nothing wrong with being a chicken though- it has its place in the world.
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This review may contain spoilers
It's basically just better than average
I know that everyone is saying this is the best Xianxia we've had for a hot minute but I think this is the key element they're forgetting. There's been such a drought of good Xianxia (and particularly good Xianxia with female leads that don't act and speak like 6 year olds and actually have a personality outside of 'love interest') that we're holding this one to a higher standard than it deserves.To start on a positive note, there are lots of great things about ShenLi. Although it is 40 episodes it's very easy to digest. Aside from an initially slow start which explores the 'mortal life' section of any Xianxia (albeit in an unexpected and quite witty way) once that awful cgi chicken disappears the show is very enjoyable. It's interesting especially to see the power dynamic shift when Xingzhi/Xingyun's true identity is revealed. The rest of the special effects are actually quite good, and the costumes - though not particularly innovative for the men - have a lot to boast for the women. Some of Shen Li and Demon Lord's outfits were stunning and the detail was apparent. The 'sky above heaven' was also an interesting addition to the show and the lore of the ancient gods.
Now onto the not so great things:
Firstly, this drama has serious pacing issues. The focus on the love story of the two leads was interesting, yes, but almost the entire plot was devoted to them with little time for side characters to develop. This almost led to an over saturation of their romance, particularly because the marriage arc was dragged out until episode 25. I also found that the apathy of the ML was at times taken too far. There is a difference between indifference and surpressed emotion which outwardly presents as indifference which was not always successfully conveyed.
Secondly, although some of the plot twists were genuinely surprising - there was no one single 'wow' factor moment within the show, and there was potential for several. Perhaps due to the halfhearted world building which failed to exhibit a real motivation for the villain beyond loyalty, the stakes never really seemed as high as they should have, and due to the overwhelming power of the 'divine god', even if he was injured or punished by the heavens for disobeying the enigmatic 'natural law' we were never led to believe that he wouldn't be able to overcome whatever was thrown at him. Such was the power of a true 'god' - the last god - compared to mere heavenly immortals.
An 8.8 rating is difficult to comprehend in my opinion. That places the Legend of Shen Li above dramas like: 'Who rules the world' and 'Scarlet Heart: Ryeo', and at the same level as 'The Story of MingLan', 'Eternal Love/Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms', 'Love Between Fairy and Devil', 'Snow Sword Stride' (all far more interesting and developed dramas as far as I'm concerned). I don't like to throw 'overrated' around but I think that this drama may have been. Don't get me wrong, it's still a very enjoyable watch and I highly recommend it; it just seems important to keep in mind that ratings are inevitably relative, and Shen Li perhaps needs to be put into context rather than looked at independently.
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Slow burn romance of a Kickass Power Couple with decent chemistry
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25I have not watched “Princess Agent” for obvious reasons (the ending sucks), so I went into this drama without expectation from Zhao Li Ying and Lin Geng Xin. I am not looking for a continuation of their previous romance. I wonder if that’s the reason why I don’t feel that their chemistry is amazing, but still good.
The big selling point of this drama is the two leads. The majority of the drama focuses on the romance and relationship, before going into the real plot towards the second half of the drama. I am a die-hard romance lover, so I am not going to complain (much) about it. It’s really lovely to see their interaction and romantic development when they’re in the mortal world. Their conversations are full of subtle and not-so-subtle sarcastic remarks, which help with building their attraction for each other. I enjoy the not-in-your-face and not-second-hand-embarrassment comedy. I feel like you need to pay attention to what’s going on to fully enjoy it, otherwise, you’ll miss a subtle dig here and there. However, I do think the drama spends way too much time setting the stage for this slow burn romance in the first half of the drama. As much as I enjoy their conversation, I also am missing the plot. This is a xianxia drama, so I am sure there’s a villain out there plotting against the ‘good’ guys.
I’m glad to see another kickass power couple as we really don’t see that many in C-dramas. From the top of my head, I could only think of the leads in “Who Rules The World” and “Wonderland of Love”. But Sheng Li and Xing Zhi are on a whole other level. They are the best of the best, the top 2 of the 3 realms. I am glad Shen Li remains intelligent, cool-headed, and powerful from beginning to the end. In a way, we have a reversal of gender. As the drama says, a reversal of who is the yin and who is the yang. Xing Zhi is also an interesting character. He’s being held in such high regards, has the whole world on his shoulders, yet he’s petty and jealous. He also is a know-it-all and doesn’t communicate much out of necessity for the most part. It’s also hilarious that once he’s given up restraining himself, he has such a love brain. He’s more clingy and emotional than Sheng Li and it’s both frustrating and fun to watch.
On the other hand, I am greatly moved by the romance between Feng Lai and Liu Yu. They have very limited screen time. Even though their romance is not unique, it leaves a more lasting impression on me. They are both such pure and kind-hearted people, but they break my heart. I might be partial as I am a big fan of Xu Hai Qiao, and his portrayal of Feng Lai is impeccable. The other romance that receives an awkward amount of screen time is with the sultry Ms Jin, the serpent. More on that at the end of the review.
The acting is solid but not exceptional. The veterans are great - Zeng Li as Shen Li’s godmother Demon Lord, Liu Guan Lin as the Heavenly Emperor, Zhou Xiao Chuan as General Shang are all great veterans. Comparatively, Zhao Li Ying and Lin Geng Xin did fine. There are moments when I thought ZLY did a really good job. I also feel that LGX’s acting is a little uneven. There are times when I feel that he could emote really well with subtle microexpressions, but other times I feel that he’s very wooden. Maybe that’s why I don’t quite feel the chemistry between them to be as great as other reviewers have said. Xin Yun Lai sorta played a dual role as Mo Fang and along with He Yu as the Heavenly grandson. They both deliver average acting. My favorite is Xu Hai Qiao as Feng Lai. His screen time is limited but XHQ never disappoints. He is such a scene stealer.
This is obviously a pretty big budget production. A large amount of CGI and green screens are used in this production. The very first fight sequence in ep 1 sets the CGI tone for the rest of the drama. However, I do find that fight scene shot like a video game. But throughout the drama, I really enjoy the special effects of the different light/power blasted during any battles. Sometimes production runs out of money and they start to fade out the special effects towards the end of the drama. Not this one! The final big battle was amazing. Despite my praise of the fight scenes, there are quite a few very fake-looking green screen shots.
Costumes and set designs are quite nice. Zhao Li Ying looks absolutely stunning in all of her different costumes, hair and make up. I love her simpler getup in the mortal world, but also enjoy her more girly looks with flowy hair. Some of the Heavenly Realm sets remind me of “Ashes of Love” and “Ancient Love Poetry”. I guess they all look the same to me after watching so many xianxias. “The Legend of Shen Li” also has a beautiful OST. However, they are played quite loudly and at times I couldn’t hear the words spoken very clearly. The drama also likes to blast this suona background music (it sounds like the suona song played in “Small Town Stories”) whenever something exciting comes up. It gets annoying after a while. One thing I am a little disappointed about is that the main leads are all dubbed. None of them uses their own voice, and at times the words don’t match the movement of the lips.
Another thing that annoys me is the large amount of inner monologues by Shen Li. There are times I wonder if these are words spoken, or all in Sheng Li’s head. Zhao Li Ying doesn’t really open her mouth wide when she speaks, so I got confused at times.
Let’s talk about the ending. I think the drama should have ended at ep 38. Ep 39 is more of a side story or an easter egg episode. It’s cute and I enjoy it, but this filler and fan service episode somewhat changes how I remember the ending of this solid drama. The kiss scenes at the end are definitely for the fans, and this fan did not enjoy the kisses. They seem awkward.
Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable watch. The pace is decent despite a little slow down with too much time spent on the set-up of the romance in the beginning. The power couple is fun to watch and I enjoy their interactions and conversations. The romance is slow but mature. Acting and production are solid, though not exceptional. I like (not love) this drama and will recommend it to those who enjoy xianxias and great CGI battles.
Completed: 5/12/2024 - Review #438
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HOOKED FROM THE 1ST EPISODE
I usually read the romance tag and run away, but watched The Legend of Shenli's first episode and didn't stop after that. The actors, the story, "the fancy bird", they are all so good that even if you don't like romance genre, you will still find yourself watching all the episodes and complaining "Why didn't they drop 2 episodes today??"This is my first time watching Lin Geng Xin and the way he flirts or interacts with the Zhao Li Ying is so sweet. I am also happy to see Xin Yun Lai after watching him in Dream Catcher; he is a really good actor. Must say Zhao Li Ying is so fun to watch. Please start this drama if you haven't already, because you'll love it.
Writing this after watching episode 18 and it is truly wonderful to see Shen Li's character. She doesn't repress her feelings for Xing Zhi and she acknowledges them. She doesn't lead Mofang on and makes it clear that she doesn't have any feelings for him, but she doesn't mistreat him as well. She is aware of her own emotions and feelings, and is a very strong character. All praise for her.
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"Captivating Romance: A Visual Feast with Genuine Affection and Compelling Storytelling"
"I am enthralled by the deliberate restraint in showcasing intimate moments, allowing the genuine affection between the male and female leads to shine through. Their love resonates with such sincerity and passion, captivating audiences and leaving a lasting impression. The cinematography beautifully captures the essence of their romance, adding depth to every scene and making it a visual feast. With such compelling storytelling and mesmerizing effects, this drama is truly worth watching. Here's hoping for a happy ending that will leave hearts warmed and spirits uplifted." Make a headline out of the above reviews.Was this review helpful to you?
The Gold standard for mythology inspired dramas
I couldn't hold myself back from writing this review. I started watching this drama as a FILLER while I waited for some kdrama. I don't care about the kdrama anymore because this xianxia has exceeded my expectations in every way.My only problem with it is that ITS WAYY TOO LONG for my attention span.
1) Acting - if you have cringed at some highly marketed xianxia with actors selling eccentricism and loudness as "good acting", this drama is for you. Both the leads have made the characters extremely believable and have picked up the nuances so well. They are SEASONED actors ! By that, I simply mean, they know a lot more than screaming to show great pain, widening their eyes to show anger and staring into each other's eyes to show love. Its a treat to watch them. As for the side characters, many of them are exceptional actors while some are slightly weaker but serve their purpose (comical). IF FU RONG WANTS A LAWYER FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE...I am available!
2) Story - Its surpassed any mythology inspired chinese (and korean) dramas I have seen. Many dramas have used similar tropes but they failed to do justice to it like this drama does. They let the story breathe in the beginning and take time with character introduction of the FL but manage to not make it boring. The female lead is ferocious yet very level headed. As for the ML, his complex character is introduced a few episodes later and kept slightly simpler as we are focusing on the FL's journey in the beginning. This God needs to write a book called "HOW TO BECOME A GREAT GOD" and that is all I will say about him. The side characters also had interesting arcs but never overshadowed the main story. The politics between the realms (which is the boring part of xianxias in general) is surprisingly engaging here and serves as a perfect tool to move the story forward. The romance is THE SLOW BURN kind of romance but I wouldn't have preferred it in any other way.The writers did a great job.
3) Music : They have used elements of chinese folk music and that's my favorite. The flute music is quite beautiful as well. There's a perfect description of the flute music in the drama which I won't spoil for you. If the story is a bowl of ramen, the music is MSG.
4) SPECIAL EFFECTS - This is where I will give it a 5/10 but that's because I am comparing it to some movies and high budget shows. For a chinese wuxia, its pretty good. This would have reached a much larger global audience had the CGI been great.
overall, its a great drama and I highly recommend it. I wish to add a few more points but I shall have to wait for it to end which will be a bitter sweet experience regardless of the happy/sad ending.
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