The Legend of Shen Li

A love story.

I loved this! It's just so perfect!

The acting is great. I dint understand why everyone keeps calling the actors too old and him too fat. It's beyond me. The man's a fine piece of man. They did such a good job. Their acting and chemistry was on point.

I love how above anything else, this is a love story. Most of it is focused on the interactions of our MC. There is a good backstory and plot that I really liked, but foremost it is a love story between 2 people who shoulder too much responsibility and who find understanding and unconditional love in each other.

Zing Zhi cracked me up. How can a however many thousands year old God be so silly? I loved how teasing he is. That man sure knows how to confuse someone though lol.

Shen Li is awesome. I loved her. Definitely not an annoying FL.

The story of Shen Li's parents was so tragic! I loved it though. I really wish Shen Li could have had a relationship with her dad. When he took her place in the end I cried my eyes out.

The line "I lost the 2 people I shouldn't have." 😭 I like to think she was meaning Zang Zhi and her father. I never really like Mo Feng.

Overall I definitely recommend this. It's just too sweet to miss.

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Interesting drama but a bit cliche

This was the first drama that Lin GengXin and Zhao LiYing reconvened, years after Princess Agent which they co-acted and was a huge hit. The sequel of Princess Agent never saw the light of day after much talk - I suspect it was pretty much toast. This drama was very much like a compensation and definitely appealed to their fans.

ShenLi was bestowed the title of General Bi Cang and was a powerful God of War. When pressured into a political marriage, she ran away and was seriously injured. She fell to the mortal realm reverting to her phoenix body and was mistaken as a chicken. A human chicken seller picked her up and sold her to Xing Yun, a sickly human.

Strangely Xing Yun seemed to be able to tell that she was a phoenix, spoke to her in her language and treated her injuries. Shen Li was suspicious of his identity and distrusted him. Aside from her clan trying to capture her, they faced threats from a human lord who was out to get them. Back in the celestial world, trouble was brewing. Unknown forces were gathering strength to take over.

Of course, there were plenty of secrets to be uncovered?. Why was Xing Yun well-versed in celestial battle formation and yet had no celestial power? What was ShenLi's mentor and head of her clan hiding from her? Who was behind the trouble in the celestial world?

On the whole, the story was interesting. However, having watched as much Chinese dramas as I have (many of which are fairy tales / xianxia) the story was somewhat cliche and felt very much like more of the same. Additionally, the ending was somewhat lame.

A rating of 8.7 is very high on mydramalist. While waiting for the rest of the episodes to be released, I was distracted and went on to watch In Blossom, with Liu XueYi and Ju JingYi as leads. This had a much lower rating of 8.1. But I thought it was more interesting. I felt that the fan base had a lot to do with it. With Lin GengXin and Zhao LiYing as the lead actors, it definitely boosted the rating of the drama. It rated this drama 8.5 and In Blossom 9.5 (the opposite to their ratings on this portal).

Overall, it is a very good production and is worth watching. This is especially true if you had not watched much of Chinese fairy tale dramas. Otherwise you might just felt the same as I had - cliche.

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What a beautiful Xanxia

I just love everything about this drama. The episodes though 39 were very enjoyable I couldn't even skip. The Ost the beginning was very captivating, I loved it too. The comedy was also on point despite the seriousness surrounding the story. Oh! And the chemistry between Shen li and our ancient god was sizzling...I recommend this drama anyday, anytime even in my sleep.

Lest I forget the costumes and CGI were also on point. They didn't miss a beat at all.

Kudos to everyone who made such a masterpiece. I hope the drama bags awards because it deserves it.

Apart from the FL and Ml my favourite character was Ms Jin and she deserved the last episode that was dedicated partly/mostly to her. She's so selfless and kind.

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The Legend of CHICKEN!

The Legend of Shen Li

Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Episodes: 39
Streamed on: Viki

Plot Summary:

In order to escape an arranged marriage that she wants no part of, the Azure Sky King hides out in the mortal realm, where she finds herself under the care of a seemingly weak mortal. But with demons, immortals, old gods and monsters, not everything is as it seems. Action, magic and forbidden love shenanigans ensue.

Characters & Cast:

Main Characters:

Zhao Li Ying ⇒ Shen Li
Lin Geng Xin ⇒ Xing Zhi || Xing Yun

Villains: There is a bigger bad and more enemies and betrayal etc, but this is the main bad of the show.
Wei Zi Xin ⇒ Fu Sheng

Special Mentions:**
Fu Rong Slidey Boy

Best of OST:

This banger hits the spot…
https://youtu.be/qfLNcs3qWZw?si=HFcEipbsTjjOhn5M

This track… it’s almost there you know. I bet a live performance of this would go off.
https://youtu.be/hrP1y83US6g?si=SuS9lOzHSsBCOifv

This one however, best banger from a Cdrama I’ve seen so far.
https://youtu.be/XHF7EYL7hkU?si=68AtPvGfBfpQmVDH

Did I mention these pipes go off?
https://youtu.be/Hqt_2l_Vo1I?si=IFblTvw_2wgYjObl

When all is said and done, from the BGM to the titled tracks, this was one banger of an OST.
https://youtu.be/XcVGpj_O3zU?si=qgbB8oKz4qjsdkcD

Gripes:

This show was pretty epic, and is one of my favourite Chinese drama’s so far. If I had one gripe, they could have cut the last 2 episodes and incorporated the important things from it in the last episode. Maybe by cutting down on the flashbacks, we didn’t need so much backstory. But if you were stressed and binging, the last 2 eps are relaxing and rewarding.

Re-watch:

**Would I watch it again?**
Yeah

**Would I watch it with my brother?**
I did, he was the one who found it.

**Would I watch it with my kid?**
I would when she’s older, but some of the scenes are a bit too adult.

Final Thoughts:

Probably the best Cdrama of 2024. The reed pipes hyped you up every episode. There was also that banger OST. And most importantly a happy ending. The couple took far too long to get together, but ultimately this drama had enough going on for you not to worry about it. There was action in almost every episode.

Rating:
9.2/10

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Strangely Captivating!

I watched the FL in "Our Glamorous Time" and that was it. Nonetheless, she left a positive impression on me - pretty and a good actress. I was stoked to see high ratings for this drama and decided to watch it without further ado.

What I Enjoyed A Lot:
- I love a strong FL and an endearing ML who is just oh-so-smitten-in-a-good-way about his lady love.
- The ML is so cute too.
- Acting for both ML and FL are top-notch. The supporting cast is great too.
- Drama is full of ups and downs which make it exciting and suspenseful.
- Music is dramatic and matches the different scenes well.
- The CG is actually nice to look at. The cartoon phoenix is cute.
- The plot, though (to me) at times really kind of bizarre and unbelievable, comes together in the end. I am amazed and delighted at how everything ties up nicely.
- The snake spirit is so cute. I like the camaraderie between the ladies in the show.
- I like Mo Fang before the weird transformation.
- The happy ending is wonderful. I like.

What I Did Not Enjoy So Much:
- Poor Mo Fang and his battle with that weirdo with a one-track mind.
- The fixated weirdos in the drama who want to rule everything and create ghouls.
- Some parts were a little strange and perhaps, too long and perhaps, not needed.

Nevertheless, this drama is exciting and dramatic. Everything is quite nicely tied up. Everything is explained quite well. I like such shows which do not leave the viewers hanging and wondering what is actually going on. I highly recommend this drama! I like it very much! Both leads are "da bomb"! <3

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Rapport

First of all, I must say that I enjoyed watching it very much. It was one of the rare good TV series I've watched recently. It was amazing. No. But the harmony between the actors was the first thing that attracted me. Zhao Li Ying and Ling Geng Xin were a very harmonious couple. We already knew this from the TV series Princess Agents. Their harmony was very good in this series too. Zhao Li Ying was also the producer of the series, so it seems that she added a lot to the series, so she even broke the rules. She got married and had a child. Left. I also think that if she had not left, she would not have played so easily.
There have been mistakes, they have neglected some things by calling it a fantastic series, but it is not worth writing about it here and affecting the beauty of the series. Overall it was a pretty good series. There are fantasy, drama, romantic and also action scenes. I even found it emotional in the last episodes. I had tears in my eyes while watching it. They tried to fit a lot into the last episodes and ended it as if there was going to be a second season.
Not just the lead actors. I also really liked the supporting roles. So CAST was perfect. The actors were very good. Especially Xin Yun Lai, He Yu, Zeng Li, Wang Yi Yao, Xuan Lu, Xu Hai Qiao were the actors that caught my attention, both with their images and acting. I also liked the little actors who portrayed the childhood of the leads. So the group of players was very good. This distinction does not mean that I do not like other players as well. However, I kept them separate, and I liked the image work done on them. Management was fine. The shots and scenes are beautifully arranged, so are the action scenes and editing. I think meticulous work has been done and care has been taken. I don't want to touch on the story because it's fantastic. Because I don't believe in polytheism. It's something I'm against. Actually, I am against telling these things like this, even if they are fantastic, but we are watching it as a spectacle. As per my belief, I believe in the existence and unity of the Almighty Creator. There is no God other than Him.

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Congratz!!!

Congratz to the director and all the crews in this drama, they use the right actresses and actors for these roles. Li Geng Xin and Zhao Li Ying are two senior actors in the field, they deliver their role amiably. Two thumbs UP!
ML and FL give their all for the roles, the production is also well spent, costumes and story line are very refreshing, not so similar compare with other drama with the same genre. At last, in this 1st quarter of 2024, there it is a first Chinese historical drama that gives me urge to write some review here.
Indeed a little bit slow pace from the first 10 episodes, we will confused where this plot going to be and what the conflict gonna be like. A love triangle? A heroic sad mellow-drama? But wait, this drama literally a comedic anyways. Surprise! Surprise! A 8.8-rating is not underrated, guys! You will never regret it after those 10 episodes.. and ofc! The ending!!!! OMG! New way to end a romantic story.. LOVE IT!

Hav Fun Watching!

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Domineering CEO in Female form

Shen li was the domineering one in actions in the beginning, its refreshing. i love BA DAO CEO genre in rom com MALE LEAD but refreshing to see it on the female here.
The beginning of the man acting weak and pretending here and there is really cute how the story goes.
The sad part is i hate it when they start with a who cannot have romance troupe is so sadddd.
Altho is a really good satisfying ending that i like.

Overpowered male lead show how no one can stop him when he decides its time for to till death split us apart, and the role swap now is the ML doing whatever he wants.
The Melo enters here- both FL and ML has huge responsibility of their own people/world and thats where the difficulty of their love comes from.. & also some other sad wholesome life story.
The comedic relief though is really cute, where everything serious going on everywhere, we have a cute fairy knocking out her relative almost everyday just to see ML & FL lovestory, & have to say the furong is REALLY SLOW on romance but also cute and funny how he always afraid the FL kill someone or gets in trouble.

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Kick Ass Female Lead!

The way this story unfolded was simply brilliant! I actually dropped it initially, but my newfound appreciation for Xin Yunlai after watching "The Glory" made me give it another try – purely for my Yunlai fix! I'm so glad I did, because I ended up absolutely loving it. The main leads' acting was superb, and the romance was utterly swoon-worthy.

Shen Li sets the standard for a strong female lead! Her unwavering courage in battle and the genuine loyalty and admiration she inspires in her army are central to her character. Zhao Liying's portrayal was absolutely spot on, bringing Shen Li to life in a way that made her leadership feel completely authentic. Lin Gengxin also delivered a spectacular performance, masterfully conveying his character's captivating internal conflict between his ultimate destiny and his love.

If you're a fan of costume dramas with an epic love story, and a kick ass female lead, this is definitely for you!

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If cottagecore and xianxia had a baby it would be The Legend of Shen Li ;D

This is an extract of my 2000-word review: https://dramatea88.wordpress.com/2024/04/29/the-legend-of-shen-li-review/

What I liked
- Lin Geng Xin isn't the typical delicate, elfin-like idol male lead xianxias typically have, but that's what I love - that he's a strapping, tall man with not-typical looks. Yay to diversity of looks and mature actors!
- OMG they filmed in actual locations! It felt weird to see these high beings wandering around real places.
- I love Shen Li's straight-talking ways, and that she doesn't suffer fools
- I totally adore the food porn. And all powerful ancient god and a great cook? Who can resist this man?
- Loved Lady Jin! What a sass madam! In fact, I love her so much that I'm so happy that she got her own side story in the last episode.

What I didn't like
- Seriously, the Heavenly Realm folks have got to be the most useless and lazidest Heavenly Realm folks in all of xianxia.
- I also don't quite get how this world works.
- I wish there was a better premise than they can't be together because "Natural Law won't permit it" and Xing Zhi losing emotional control.
- Overuse of internal monologue. There are better ways to convey this than internal monologues, really.

The ending
Oh dear lord, finally a good ending.

Was episode 39 necessary? Ending it at 38 would've been neat and tidy. But I love watching Xing Zhi and Shen Li enjoying their "retirement" from official heavenly duties and giving each other maximum skinship. They deserve it.

Final thoughts
I think the reason why The Legend of Shen Li spoke to me so much is because it touches the longing we have in our hearts as adults with heavy responsibilities.

Like our couple, most of us are weighed down by life's demands. So, there's a longing in us for a simpler life where we can just retreat to the green surroundings of the countryside, grow our food, cook, and just nourish our loved ones. This drama really spoke to that longing, at least for me.

Still, I'm giving it an 8.5/10 rather than the 9 I would've given if the storytelling and pacing had been better and the world better fleshed out.

It's still one of the best xianxias you can watch; a rare gem that caters to more mature viewers.

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An Emotional Rollercoaster

The drama was exceptional, excelling in plot, acting, and music. It stands out particularly for its realistic fighting scenes, a refreshing departure from other dramas with awkward CGI. The music, while great overall, occasionally veered into being overly loud during battle scenes, making it hard to hear dialogue without adjusting the volume frequently. Despite this, the acting was top-notch, which was expected given the talented lineup. Watching the main leads for the first time was a pleasant surprise, especially in how they conveyed emotions that many other dramas fail to capture. Both actors are seasoned professionals, adept at drawing out genuine feelings from their characters.

One minor critique is that at times, Mo Fang's acting felt slightly awkward, particularly towards the end of the series. Nevertheless, it didn't detract significantly from the overall experience. Another highlight was the portrayal of the female lead as a relatable character rather than an all-powerful figure constantly reliant on the male lead. The dynamic between the leads was well-written, showcasing effective communication and mutual reliance.

I highly recommend this drama to fans of epic battle scenes and nuanced performances, as it delivers both with finesse.

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One of the best Xianxia drama out there

Good points:
- No misunderstandings
- Straightforward main leads
- good share of humours and heartbreaks
- Mature main leads (sometime just lol-ed at Xingzhi)
- One of the shows with better CGI (except for the chicken phoenix lol)

Not so good points:
- one dimensional villains? (not so into their mission)
- some parts are draggy (e.g. heavenly lord scenes, sometimes Furong & Mofang)
- revelations of certain scenes (e.g. where she knew Xingyun is Xingzhi, i geddit that she's smart, but i guess from Xingzhi's childish behavior, lol, she sort of get it. Another one is, Shen li's parents reveal, this part was SOOOOO underwhelming.)
- it wasn't mentioned what is the purpose of Xingzhi's task, was it destroying of Tianwai Tian (i can't remember the english word lol) ?

Regarding ZLY & LGX:
- Initially i was quite bothered by LGX (not because he's old whatsoever), this is my first time his drama, and LGX look so mature for this. ZLY too. since both already transit to mature acting/dramas now. But eventually i got used to him, and his funny scenes were so naturally good but the scene at ep38 (iykyk), was the killer. Both display their capabilities as actors, that scene was sooooooo heartfelt and immersive.

The show has its merits and not. However, i do enjoy. Especially it gave 1 whole ep of FLUFF at the end.

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