Guardians of the Dafeng

The Guardian of Dafeng

An unsuspecting young man + a mysterious game = a transmigration story full of comedy, plot twists, and epic adventure. The story starts with Yang Ling, a personable and promising young man who aspires to enter the police force as an investigator. But as luck would have it, he fails to do so and is forced to work as a struggling salesman. One night, he decides to play a seemingly harmless mystery game with his colleagues and suddenly finds himself transported into the magical world of Dafeng. In this world, he is known as Xu Qi An, the nephew of a low-born government official. In order to leave this world, he has to solve the mystery, and so he assumes the identity of this character and decides to make good use of his deduction skills. As he rapidly climbs the social ladder in this intricate world of Dafeng and becomes more and more attached to the people in it, he unknowingly uncovers a sinister plot that could put him and his loved ones in critical danger.

I immediately found myself enamored with Dafeng and the more I immersed myself in its rich world and colorful characters, I became more fond of it. Wang Hedi positively shines as Xu Qi An. If I may so boldly claim, I believe this role was practically written for him and his best one yet. Yes, I know, this is was based on a novel, which I haven't read by the way. But the role fits him like a glove that it feels like it was written with him in mind. Many have compared the drama to Joy of Life, including myself, and I must agree, they are quite similar. But they're also very different. Joy of Life is more politically driven with far more complex characters that are neither black nor white. Guardians of the Dafeng has more idealistic characters that can be likened to superheroes in terms of principles and traits. In short, it's a more straightforward story with a role model type of main character who's driven by his sense of justice and has friends who share his ideals.

The Guardians are probably the coolest part of this drama, especially Xu Qi An's close-knit circle of friends. They're basically the Justice League or the Avengers of C-drama and I loved watching them on screen. I also became very attached to his wacky family. They reminded me of Fan Xian's equally adorable family from Joy of Life. One of my favorite characters in this is Wei Yuan, who is the counterpart of Joy of Life's Cheng Ping Ping. Both are powerful eunuchs and highly intelligent strategists and are probably the most interesting characters in their respective dramas. I like all the characters except one. I wish they hadn't added a love interest. I know that Xu Qi An marries her in the book but he was supposedly more in love with the Royal Princess and she was his primary romantic interest. To avoid the harem angle, they could've just made them fall for him but he didn't need to return their affections. That way, the drama would just be a straight up male-centric story revolving around Xu Qi An with no romantic entanglements and complications.

Strangely enough, I actually enjoyed the first few episodes even though many viewers complained about the slapstick comedy and slowburn plot progression in the beginning. I started to lose interest the moment the princess showed up and began causing all kinds of havoc. The character doesn't contribute anything of value to the story, frankly speaking. She is no more than just an unnecessary accessory, the tasteless edible gold leaf embellishment to the proverbial cherry on top of an already well-decorated cake. She annoyed me to no end. I skipped all of her scenes save for the ones that involved a subplot regarding another princess. I didn't feel the need to watch the rest and I didn't lose anything from not watching them. They could've completely written her out of the story and it wouldn't have mattered. I wish they had focused more on the Royal Princess, she's a far more intriguing character in my opinion. It wouldn't have mattered if she was the love interest or not because she could've played a more significant role in the court politics and her interesting relationship with Lord Wei needs to be explored more. I get the feeling that she's actually his daughter and not the emperor's. I hope they'd delve more into her character in future seasons.

All in all, this was a highly entertaining drama that could've been great if not for the hiccups in the writing of the love interest, the silly mistaken identity subplot that slowed down the story for several episodes, and the abrupt ending that made me cuss and complain that they could've fit everything in just 40 episodes if they didn't add so much unnecessary stuff that only dragged the story. I would've given this a much higher rating if they had actually done that. Anyways, I'm still going to watch the second season if they ever make one.

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I had quite some problems getting into this one, because the start was very slow and long. It took me 7 to 8 episodes until I finally got really invested in this because in the beginning, I didn't get what the main focus of the drama was. Now I know how important that (long) built-up was because it manifests later relationships and makes them more understandable. Patience bears great fruits, you might say.

The story mainly revolves around the ML adapting to the new situation and with his unusual (and modern) approach builds new relationships in every (eventually powerful) group, that is out there. And with that he's unknowingly uniting them all.

The comedy in this drama is quite well balanced. I esp. grew very fond of his family. Man, they made me laugh so much all the time. I quite liked how subtle their behavior towards him changed throughout the drama, from unsympathetic to deeply caring for him.

I even more liked his growing bond with Master Wen (the leader of the Guardians). If you ask me, that was the actual main "love" story here, lol. The obvious love story was only a side branch, one of many relationships in the drama - and thankfully didn't take up much space. I didn't take much interest in that one at all. His different bromances/fellowships and comradeships (esp with the guardians) were what made the drama so enjoyable.

But with so many likable characters it's difficult to give them equal space throughout the drama, esp. in the second half. For example, I was very fond of the Gold Guardian Yang Yan, and I was quite sad that he didn't appear for several episodes later on, I was even worried that he might not appear at all anymore. Thank god, he did though.

I also appreciated that the court affairs/conflicts/intrigues didn't get out of control (didn't become the main force and didn't get too much weight) but instead adapted to the situations and went with the flow. No one-sided ministers and a quite obscure emperor.

If it wasn't for the upcoming 2nd season, I would have been quite disappointed about the finale, because it didn't feel like an ending at all. Too many unanswered questions, the wizard cult wasn't explained enough, etc. The end presented a big cliffhanger and I can't wait for the 2nd season. Hopefully with all those likable characters again.

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This hit the spot

It’s rare for me to watch a C-Drama without cringing at least once at the attempted comedy - but Guardians of Dafeng had me genuinely belly laughing more than a few times.

What began as what I thought would be a light-hearted, casual watch quickly turned into something much deeper. As the episodes went on, I found myself increasingly invested in the main character’s journey. The writing is sharp and purposeful, the scenes feel natural rather than forced, and the characters are well-rounded, distinctive, and memorable. To top it off, the soundtrack is catchy and fun—I don’t speak a word of Chinese, yet months later I can still hum the main theme.

I knew this was a standout series when I accidentally binged six episodes in a single sitting without even realising it. By the time it ended, I was left wanting more—and to me, that’s the hallmark of great storytelling.

The world-building is rich and immersive, the performances from the entire cast are top quality, and even the side characters bring their own meaningful impact to the storyline. Well, all except for one faceless mage - you’ll just have to discover that one for yourself.

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I read the entire novel

Well first of all, the timeline and many plots got scrambled and sometimes they merged 2 storylines which make absolutely no sense to me (I speculate they just want to just keep some key details without dragging the plot), however if you read the novel, there just reasons to why the author make it that way.
The character is there and quite good and subtlety different from the novel which honestly a good feature in my opinion. Although it is very different from the novel, for instant it feels like MC only love interest seems to be Lian princess and if you read the novel, it basically a harem, despite he did end up living the rest of his life only with her.
Also, I saw many criticisms on the MC accent, and since he is a person from the future, the novel did state that he sounds very different from everyone else since that what he used to (which is the only details I enjoyed but make y'all hate it lol).
I also have to confess I haven't finished the series since I can't cause the film pissed me off sometimes. I know it's unfair, but the characters' appearances aren't portrayed very well, for instance, Wei Yuan and his lover (the Empress), despite their age, they are highly regarded for their beauty, manners and attitude which I just can't see it through the screens.
Overall, I would recommend it cause the fighting scene just an absolute treat to watch and generally it is pretty funny.
Also, this is a COMEDY DRAMA; I love the comic and the novel mostly for the detective scene and Xu Quian supposes to be a police/detective in his previous life (in the novel), IN THE MOVIE HE FELL THE POLICE ASSESSMENT EXAM!!!! And become a real estate agent or something (don't quote me on this) so he would sometimes show good communication and persuasiveness, but I can't see why they changed that detail one bit. Therefore, if you expecting a crime solving masterpiece, there aren't, just some good logical thinking and attentive to details.
PS: I said this already, but I HAVEN'T finished watching the film since my mental health right now just cannot handle it, although I might comeback. Just some small details triggered me since one more thing I really like about the novel is that some small details and decisions made most of the times are influenced by an event or some other small details WHICH YOU CAN'T JUST CHOOSE TO EXCLUDE THEM COMPLETELY FROM THE MOVIE.

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First Costume Drama I was able to finish in a week.

I've been a C-drama watcher since around 2019 to 2020, but even then, I rarely watched costume dramas—and never actually finished one until now.

Guardians of the Dafeng was the first costume drama I enjoyed from start to finish.

One thing I’ve always disliked about costume dramas is the guaranteed pain and angst. I don’t think there’s ever been one without it. That’s why I rarely watched them, and if I did, I usually didn’t finish because I’m very averse to emotional pain and angst.

With Guardians of the Dafeng, even though I knew some angst would come eventually, each episode kept me engaged. I didn’t even realize I was already halfway through the series by the time I started feeling a bit tired.

I think this drama is one of the best beginner-friendly costume dramas you could recommend to someone looking to get into the genre.

Probably the only disappointment for me was the lack of romantic scenes between Tian Xiwei and Wang Hedi. There were a few, but it just wasn’t enough for me.

Also, the ending was a bit rushed, and we weren't able to see any proper ending which is probably intended if they will make a season 2

Hopefully, there will be a season 2.

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Best drama ever!!!

To be honest I’ve never really been a fan of historical dramas but after this I think that may change. I first discovered this drama when I found out Dylan Wang (who I’ve seen in other dramas) was in it. So waited in expectancy for its release and was definitely not disappointed.
There were many laughs even from the first episode and the action and suspense progressed throughout the whole season in such a way that left me anxiously waiting for the next episode to be put out. Dylan Wang is the perfect lead for this role by far. How he expresses his emotions and portrays the character while still allowing some comical relief is just incredible.
Although I am late to write this review I wanted to make sure I watched it twice before giving my opinion. I’d say if you’ve been considering watching this drama definitely give it a try because you’ll surely be surprised.

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Season 2 please! Same cast!

This was a blast. I enjoyed watching something so different from the usual dramas I watched in 2024 - I loved all the characters, the underlying messages of being sincere and incorruptible, and the ridiculous family. I enjoyed the bit of romance because I thought they were cute when they were together. I thought the acting was great by everyone, and will never understand the Dylan Wang hate. He tries all sorts of things, which I admire in a performer, and I enjoy watching him on screen.

I like silly humor, case solving, fantasy world building types of stories. If you start and it seems too silly, you should try watching longer. It keeps having funny scenes, but the story itself isn’t silly.

My only complaint: I want a season 2 as the story lost focus for a bit and there are way too many unfinished storylines. Because the source material is looooooonnnnnnnngggggggg, they obviously needed to cut the story down to drama size. I think just focusing on the Guardians, the case solving, the family and world building would have easily filled 40 episodes. The wizard cult stuff could be explored in a season 2.

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Light, refreshing, witty, with intrigue and action

If there’s one thing The Guardians of the Dafeng proves, it’s that Dylan Wang is on a roll. Ever since I first saw him in Love Between Fairy and Devil, I’ve followed his work religiously, and he has yet to disappoint me. This show? Another masterpiece. It’s gripping, intelligent, and refreshingly light when it needs to be — an absolute joy to watch from start to finish.

What surprised me most was how much I adored the fact that romance is secondary at best in the plot. Coming from someone mostly into romance, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Dylan’s versatility made sure I didn’t miss it.

Xu Qi’an is the kind of character that pulls you in — witty, self-assured without being insufferable, and always aware of the absurdity of his own circumstances. He’s got the confidence of a protagonist who knows he’s the smartest guy in the room but the humility to never take himself too seriously. It’s that balance that makes him so endearing, and the way he seemingly easily gathers allies — from the Bureau of Astronomy to the Guardians, officials, and even the imperial family — just proves how much of a magnetic force he is.

Speaking of allies, the chemistry between the cast is incredible. The Xu family dynamic? Chef’s kiss. They bicker like there’s no tomorrow, but when it comes down to it, they will stand by each other, even in the face of death.

I can’t talk that long without appreciating the supporting characters. Beyond the emotional bonds, the show also delivers on the action front, with each character bringing their own strengths to the battlefield. And when it comes to sheer presence, few can match Yang Yan. His fight scenes are pure cinema. The aura, the might, the majesty — every time he’s on screen, it’s impossible to look away. And let’s not forget Nangong Qian Rou, the only female Gold Gong. A total badass and the perfect blend between power and elegance.

Then there’s Mr. Wei, the leader of the Guardians, whose father-son relationship with Xu Qi’an adds so much depth to the story. Watching their bond evolve, the way Mr. Wei both guides and challenges him, is one of the many emotional anchors of the series.

One of my favorite things about this show is its ability to transition seamlessly from deeply philosophical discussions to the most absurdly trivial matters. One moment, we’re questioning justice, morality, and the law; the next, we’re dealing with some completely ridiculous, almost comedic situation. It’s this ability to strike a balance between depth and humor that makes the show so engaging.

My most emotional twist was Xi Qi’an’s trial, where he was charged for killing a Silver Gong — an act of justice that clashed with the very law he served. Mr. Wei, his mentor, was the one forced to hand down the sentence, torn between duty and the knowledge that Xu Qi’an had done the right thing. The weight of that moment, the tension in their gazes, the silent war between justice and the law — it was cinematic gold.

Xu Qi’an’s brilliance in solving the unsolvable cases made him a highly sought-after asset, with Gold Gongs even competing to have him on their team. The respect he earned throughout the series is palpable. Even characters like Li Yuchun, who started off distrusting him, by the time Silver Gong’s death trial comes around, were already standing up for him wholeheartedly.

A lot of people compare TGOTD to Joy of Life, but to me, the former stands on its own. It keeps things playful even when the stakes are high, whereas JOL— despite Fan Xian’s humor — carries a heavier sense of danger with its plot twists. TGOTD thrives on its witty exchanges, fast-paced storytelling, and engaging character dynamics, making it feel more like a thrilling yet fun ride. While danger is always present, the story never lingers too long in despair. Each twist feels exhilarating rather than angsty. The tension is real, but it never tips into the same level of dread that JOL sometimes reaches, keeping the ride fun and fast-paced.

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This series exceeded my expectations. You can't just see so many of Dylan's acting positions in one person. It's impossible to count the number of emotions I experienced while watching the series. This series confirmed for me that Dylan's acting is of very high quality and is still improving. Series after series is better and better even without acting education, developing his talent prerequisites for acting with an emphasis on the ability to adapt to any character he portrays. He is truly unique. Because as an actor he is truly, humble. He is humble, in every role, because his portrayal of all his characters is not the work of a moment, but a parallel to eternity, this feeling that his acting leaves in me. And only when he portrays a given character with a humility that is inherent to himself, only then does he become great in his talent. Although very young, but his emphasis on portrayal and passion for acting - this is exactly why he is so incredibly creative.

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