Love on the Turquoise Land

A Slow-Burn Love Sci-Fi Drama Where the Antagonists were more Modernized than the Protagonists.

I can say this was in my more anticipated dramas this year as I wanted to see the pairing of Reba with CXX as well as ZL as the awesome villain she can play and the sci-fi aspect as that's rare in cdramas. Now while the acting by literally everyone was spot on, the storyline had a lot of issues after the halfway mark. Let's discuss.

Pros: The chemistry of the leads and everyone's relationships be they team evil or good was the top contender. We had an ancient enemy known as the fiends that in their non-human forms looked like aliens that wanted to take over earth and a group of hunters appointed by an ancient king called the Nanshan or South Mountain Hunters and this duty was passed down from generation to generation. What the hunters didn't realize until the ML or YT met the FL or NJL was that the fiends had found a way to take on human forms and only those that still lived underground looked alien-eske. They were living amongst humans and the one in charge or LRX played by ZL had a whole farm where she used generations of actual kidnapped humans as "blood bags" or basically every inch of their body is consumed by a fiend who than looks like that person and is stronger than humans. But they are careful in their selection as they don't want to attract too much attention.

YT's parents and sister (about her we learned only briefly at the very end but not how) were murdered because his father owned a mine which could be used by LXR--or fake Lin as I called her because she took on YT's mom's name after the fact--for when the fiends went through their transformation to human. So Fake Lin and her posse of fiends plus the humans she employed—lord only knew why they were so loyal to her—raised YT and an unrelated sister that was born, to later be used as a blood bag herself. YT didn't know the truth until he grew up and found his mother's diary and from then on both he and LL (the sister) who also knew the truth lived in constant fear and had to conduct themselves appropriately but he was definitely trying to learn the truth and find ways to free them both.

It wasn't until he met NJL that everything changed. NJL was a sculptor by day and a Nanshan Hunter, one of the strongest because she wielded the Mad Blade as it was known. Her mother was one as well but was presumably killed 20 years ago and not seen again until the end. NJL was trying to quit the hunters but it kept coming back to her. She too lost her family to the fiends; first her mother and then her father took his own life from depression. She was raised by uncle Jiang who was the leader of the hunters and he and another woman trained her when she was a child and gave her, her blade which she had to accept by giving her blood as she was a direct descendant.

Through a series of encounters with YT, NJL learns to her horror that the fiends are now walking around in human form and this is why the last 20 years when they patrol the mountain it's been relatively quiet. Her relationship with YT starts off as combative but as he proves with information that he is trustworthy, they slowly become friends, than partners who help each other when wounded and other times and than it turns romantic. It's a slow burn which is expected given that romance isn't the primary storyline. To YT, NJL is the hope he's been looking for in him seeking the truth.

Meanwhile, fake Lin starts to suspect her "son" is finding out more than he needs to. We never really learned what plans she had for him other than helping her run her huge company filled with unsuspecting scientists and other people who do research on different DNA and other things meanwhile all of that is used in her quest to turn more and more of her kind into human form. She does charity work and other things on the side like investment and marketing that are legitimate to hide her side business. We start seeing clashes between fiends, their human sidekicks and hunters when one is kidnapped briefly and while he is released, Jiang-Shu and 4 others are taken and this is the start of everything that culminates in the battle at the end.

There's a second couple of LL and the doc friend and sponsored by fake Lin named Lv Xian who are pushed together because the only way LL can become a blood bag is if she gets married and has kids. Fake Lin feeds her raw meat and drugs her with milk. But the two become friends and later more than that. He helps YT and even NJL later rescue LL from the house; he also knows the truth but only reveals it to YT at the end. But YT gets caught, first with his mother's diary for which he is imprisoned at home for at least 15 days and than because a jealous hunter XS who has a thing for NJL, says his name in the exchange of prisoners with fake Lin which is when she realizes that YT "betrayed" her when he and his whole family "should be grateful to her for everything she's done." Delusional doesn't begin to cover it. So he's imprisoned in the mine for over a month and when NJL and another hunter rescue him, it's obvious he's gotten severe trauma. It takes a long time for him to come out of it; but he does with the help of NJL's now blended family; her caretaker, LL, and a dumplings guy who was also saved from the fiends when he harbored LL for a bit.

YT and NJL's romance picks up more at the end after her selective amnesia goes away and they have their "reunion" kiss and another intimate moment though not shown, it's understood. It's an HE for all intents and purposes; creepy ending notwithstanding. The entire story I won't tell but it's pretty cool in the first half. The second is as well but the storyline takes a dip at YT's mine time and never really recovers; but that'll be in the cons. Usually I list the characters that I liked the best, but honestly every single one did a great job. The leads and ZL were the best but I can't point to my favorite character because they all pulled their weight. The fights were great except the last one; my favorite was the one at the farm between NJL and fake Lin.

The amazing CGI especially of the non-human fiends, and that red cave thing where the earth demons dwelled plus the membrane NJL's mom put her in where YT rescued her from. I think that's why this show got an S+. The entire soundtrack fits perfectly as did costumes, sets, etc.

Now let's head to the cons. Sadly, there were a lot of those.

Cons: They started cutting scenes around the time YT was in the mine and the rest was spliced together; things you'd see in previews or official photos, you never saw on screen. There were so many plot holes, you could fall into one. Some of the examples are: They hadn't trained in 20 years; everything was outdated and they were at a severe disadvantage which is why the final battle was a hot mess. They weren't even physically strong to take on the human fiends let alone their non human counterparts. When was the last time any of them went to a gym? It's like YT knew how strong fake Lin was because she lifted him off the ground with one hand when he was locked in the house but he used the tranq gun like a bat? I mean really? He couldn't shoot her? She disarmed him in under 3 seconds and shot him instead. Make it make sense, plz. Uncle Jiang knew about the earth demons (NJL's mom being the only one who retained her consciousness) but never told the hunters and XS only read half of it from a book but never studied further to know they would take out their own brethren. Everyone was waiting for a serious battle because of the build up and we got that?!? The writers did put the hunters at a serious disadvantage by making them not modernized like their enemy was. They could have used Mad Blade's blood to make real bullets with real guns, so much could have been adapted.

The fiends had adapted with resources, modern tools, even drones at one point, while the hunters looked almost embarrassing in comparison, stuck in outdated methods. Viewed from an outside perspective, the hunters seemed like a poorly maintained car garage, while the fiends operated like the Italian mob when they had real power. In that final battle, the hunters were pretty much slaughtered and that’s because they spent 20 years sitting on their asses eating, joking, and not training and their equipment was 20 years behind schedule, AT LEAST. Then there was the fact that they could not watch each other‘s backs and that’s why SQ was ambushed, which by the way was so out of the blue; like he barely got a chance to fight. But all the strong hunters had to sacrifice themselves one way or another or get badly hurt to kill essentially 2 human fiends because NJL with her "Mad Blade Medicine", took out the two huge non-human ones. But at least Jiang-Shu got some revenge and killed the dude with the blade who killed him, but I think he was glad that he did that. Fake Lin just stood by the side waiting for YT (who by the way basically shot maybe three times the entire time; otherwise he just ran around and pointed that rather useless tranq gun) and NJL. And the anticlimactic non-fight between fake Lin and NJL. We were really building up to it and literally nothing happened; other than talking but then they stabbed each other and it was over as NJL fell and then mom came flying in and decapitated fake Lin. 32 episode built up to that; what a waste!

Also when YT was rescuing FL from the membrane, his hands were red and blistered but next scene, they're fine. And probably the most ridiculous part was the selective amnesia. She remembered everybody except him. Every single time something was brought up she remembered the fight, she remembered the people. He was there alongside her, by her side every step of the way and yet nope, she didn’t remember him. Thankfully that lasted only 1. 25 eps. There were more but I already forgot them.

Would I recommend it? Despite the absolutely insane amount of plot holes in the cons and cut scenes, the series itself is still quite good. Hence it got the score it did. The acting was phenomenal and the overall story is good. Watch and judge for yourselves.

Read More

Thrilling, action-filled, romance as a subplot! Everything you could possibly want basically

When I went into Love on the Turquoise Land, I was excited, yes, but I wasn't expecting it to take me on a journey of heartbreak, happiness, worry, and anticipation. From the beginning, LOTL captivated me with it's fast-paced yet incredibly nuanced plot line, whether it was the carefully crafted backstory of each character that made them the way they are today. I initially held some degree of hesitation, as I don't typically watch stuff considered "supernatural" but LOTL was pleasantly surprising with this. In my opinion, the "supernatural" aspects are not far fetched ideas that are not fleshed out enough to have any real substance to them, but rather, these supernatural creatures involved have complex and distinct stories of how they came to be, their motives, and their history.


(SMALL) SPOILERS AHEAD
First thing I want to talk about (and praise) are all of the cast members. Each played their character extremely well and demonstrated a deep understanding for who their character is and not just their external motivations but even to some extent, the secrets their characters may hold.

Dilraba's Nie Jiuluo was beautifully crafted. Nie Jiuluo, or A Luo, started off as someone who was cold and detached from the world, which that in itself was such an interesting irony for me. A Luo, since she was young, has wanted to leave the Nanshan Hunters and live an ordinary life, as those in the Nanshan Hunters seem to almost live in their own world, yet when she was living among regular everyday civilians, she wasn't really a part of their world. In the beginning, A Luo lived in a limbo of sorts, between the world of ordinary people and the world the hunters lived in. Then, after she meets Yan Tuo and goes through several life-or-death situations, she slowly warms up to people as a whole and consequently becomes more integrated into the ordinary world but at the same time, with Yan Tuo's presence, she becomes more and more tangled up into the affairs of the Nanshan Hunters. What I especially loved to see was the subtle change in A Luo's character and I largely accredit that to Reba's acting. The micro-expressions and changes in tone of voice brought the character to life and made A Luo's character growth truly realistic and believable. As an avid fan of Reba, her acting in this (and her previous drama, Sword Rose) shows huge improvements and I can't wait to see what's next for her.

Chen Xingxu's Yan Tuo was a complex and layered character that I strongly believed not many actors can pull off. Especially in the beginning of LOTL, Yan Tuo was someone who had to adapt two different personalities to survive. One that was his true self, which he only showed to those closest to him, and one that was obedient, compliant, and essentially "perfect" for Lin Xirou and her companions. The second personality is what I find most interesting with Yan Tuo's character. He has to be smart enough to take on responsibilities in the Roushan group but not smart enough to detect anything wrong with Lin Xirou. It's a delicate balance that requires all the right expressions, interactions, and line delivery, and that balance is what I believe Chen Xingxu was able to achieve. At one moment, Yan Tuo could be cautious and wary of Lin Xirou and at the next moment, he is able to play her oblivious, young, loving, and grateful stepson. Additionally, his character contrasts Nie Jiuluo's well--- A Luo's character development was slow and no one is able to pinpoint the exact moment her character shifted while Yan Tuo's development was almost instant. Once he was fully exposed, Yan Tuo completely gave up the idea of upholding his old image in the eyes of Lin Xirou and let his hatred for her shine through. This is yet another irony I find interesting in the characters of LOTL. A Luo, compared to Yan Tuo, is more impulsive and "swift", while Yan Tuo is relatively calm and calculated, biding his time until the moment came, yet their developments mirrored each other's personalities more than their own.

Zhang Li's Lin Xirou was another character I found incredibly captivating. Even though she is the ultimate antagonist and mastermind behind almost all the problems in the show, the way the scenes and Zhang Li's understanding of her character made it impossible for me to fully hate Lin Xirou. As an actress, Zhang Li beautifully portrays the internal struggles of Lin Xirou and the necessity to still appear strong on the outside. Lin Xirou genuinely cared for Yan Tuo and truly saw him as family, and that line she said to Yan Tuo, "Your biggest helper in these lies wasn't your sculptor girlfriend or the Nanshan Hunters, it was me." was so powerful and captured so well the complexities of Lin Xirou as a person. In the eyes of everyone else, the Earth Fiends were heartless and ruthless. They existed as an entity and not a life capable of love and anguish but Lin Xirou's character proved those beliefs wrong. She knew Yan Tuo knew more than what he let on. She knew that one day, he would stand against her. Yet, she continued playing along with him, pretending she was oblivious to all Yan Tuo was doing and turning a blind eye to his repeated betrayals, and not for any ulterior motives. Yan Tuo held no importance to her mission or her survival. He wasn't her blood bag, he wasn't unconditionally loyal, and he wasn't even the same species as her. She repeatedly gave him chances to turn back because Lin Xirou came to genuinely love and care for the little boy she watched grow up. Like Yan Tuo, who wore two faces, Lin Xirou did the same and due credits should be given to Zhang Li too. On one hand, Lin Xirou was cold and calculating to ensure the assimilation and survival of her people, on the other hand, she played a loving stepmother who ignored all and any wrongdoings of Yan Tuo. To be able to capture the exact moment her character sensed something wrong, then immediately mask that concern takes hard work and dedication to the craft that is acting and I truly believe that like the rest of the cast, this drama would not be as good as it is.

All of the other supporting/side characters like Xiong Hei, Lin Ling, Feng Mi, Yu Rong, Que Cha, and even Xing Shen were all truly exceptional too. I wish I had time to go over how I found each of their characters interesting in their own right and all of the nuances written into their characters despite them being only support characters, but alas, this review would become way too long and there are still some points I would like to cover.

Second, I would like the praise the pacing and story telling of LOTL. One thing that I have found common in many cdramas are filler episodes. Whether it was small, unknown dramas or widely recognized dramas, the large majority of them shared one glaring weakness in my eyes: too many filler episodes. When I came into LOTL, I was expecting the same. This belief, of course, was pleasantly proven wrong. The pacing of LOTL was pretty much perfect. Each episode had me at the edge of my seat and wanting more. Had I started watching this when it first aired, I almost definitely would've binged this entire drama in less than 3 days.

The story telling was no different than the pacing, and when I talk about story telling, I don't just mean the plot, I'm factoring in the cinematography, the sequence of scenes (flashbacks included), and the use of camera angles. I don't even know how to describe it in a way that does it justice but the best way I can describe the cinematography in this drama is it sucks you into the story and makes it feel like you are watching it unfold with your own eyes, not just on a screen. The way this drama is shot, you would expect it to be a high-production movie. I also really enjoyed the way flashback scenes were utilized. Instead of letting the viewers see glimpses of the lead's backstory throughout the entire drama, the first few episodes lays it out pretty clearly for the audience. This decision not only allowed the audience to better understand and connect with the characters, it allowed most of the focus and curiosity to be on the antagonists--- the Earth Fiends. Instead of immediately revealing all of the information about them in the beginning, we, as the viewers, found out most of the information with the protagonists. This massively contributed to the captivating nature of LOTL and I believe this was one of its strongest advantages over the other cdramas.

Of course, I do also need to talk about the plot itself and not just the way it was presented to us. I found the plot to be incredibly nuanced and well-crafted. The world the male lead and female lead lives in is obviously fictional but the world building that was not just lost somewhere in the writing room was actually conveyed to a point that made the world feel real. Nothing happened without reason. One event led to another and all of the major plot points like Yan Tuo being trapped in the cave, Nie Jiuluo being stabbed by the Earth Fiends and barely clinging to her life, all of the Nanshan Hunters entering the Twilight Chasm ready to leave everything behind to build a peaceful world, Yan Tuo severely hurting Lin Xirou with Nie Jiuluo's bracelet, and so many other scenes I don't have enough time to list all of, they all happened to serve a specific purpose and built on each other, one way or another.

Now, since this is a review, it would be unrealistic if I only had praises, as I have yet to find the cdrama that I believe to be completely perfect in every aspect. While the story was more than satisfactory, I found the ending to be somewhat lacking. I didn't understand why Locust was never utilized by Xing Shen after he spent so long training him. I don't mean that Locust should have fought in the final battle but rather, after they escaped their initial cell, they quite literally had no more significance to the plot and I think they could have done something cool with him and Locust. Another thing I had a problem with was the lack of focus on the ending of the other characters. Sure, we had hints to the ending of Yu Rong and Que Cha, Lin Ling and Lu Xian, and Ms. Lu and uncle Changxi, however, they were just hints and in my opinion, did not provide a sufficient "end of story" for these beloved characters. Additionally, some very important people were left out of the ending too. We don't know what happened to the Nanshan Hunters, afterall, Xing Shen and Jiang Baichuan are both dead, the Mad Blade and Ghost Whip has more or less retired their positions to live a quiet and peaceful life, leaving only a handful of hunters left. Did they disband or is there a new leader elected? I understand the belief is the Earth Fiends have been fully taken care of, but it still stands that there are Earth Fiends alive and like they evolved to become human, they can evolve eventually to be able to cross that chasm. I will say however, leaving out the fate of the Nanshan Hunters can be intentional depending on how you look at it. The way I also see it, we don't know what became of the Nanshan Hunters for certain because Nie Jiuluo herself does not care what will happen to them and this story, in a sense, is told in her perspective. Another small problem I had with the ending was also how they dealt with Locust, which I touched on earlier. They basically handed them off to an animal control equivalent, but why and how did that not raise suspicions, as almost definitely, those researchers have never seen anything similar to an Earth Fiend? It was also implied Locust was Lin Xirou's child and Lin Xirou even asked about Locust but nothing ever came of it and Lin Xirou basically forgot Locust was in the hands of the Nanshan Hunters, as in the exchange, she did not ask for Locust. I just think it was such a missed opportunity to make the story more interesting and better craft Locust's character and existence in the film.

Still, my largest issues with the ending lies in two parts: Lin Xirou's death, and the amnesia plot. The defeat of Lin Xirou was something the show spent almost 30 episodes leading up to, yet the actual scene was less than like 2 minutes. It felt like her death ultimately didn't really matter. Also, in the final battle, it felt like they dehumanized her almost completely. She is shown to care about her people and at the very least, she was close with Feng Mi but after her friends and basically family started dropping like flies, she showed no care for them whatsoever. I still don't quite understand why Feng Mi was left behind to die and none of them even mourned her. I'm also not understanding why Nie Jiuluo ended up ultimately failing to kill Lin Xirou and it was her mother that had to do it. She was literally just shown expertly killing a number of Earth Fiends, yet when she reaches the most important one, she forgets how an Earth Fiend can be killed? That just seems really stupid and a plot hole. A more meaningful death would've been if Nie Jiuluo was able to ultimately kill Lin Xirou but the price of that would be her own "death" and when Yan Tuo watches Nie Jiuluo and Lin Xirou fall, he sees Nie Jiuluo's mother approach.

Onto the amnesia plot, in my opinion, it was unnecessary and too generic. Up to this point, LOTL had done such a good job with being unique and unpredictable but this plot was the exact opposite. I understand the need for there to be consequences to A Luo taking the Mad Blade medicine, but the whole "amnesia" thing doesn't even correlate. The excuse was that taking the medicine would essentially sever the ties to her emotions and whatnot and that's what caused her amnesia but that makes no sense because why would it only take away a few months of memories? The better plot to go with would've been that it permanently severed her emotions and the last two episodes are spent on Yan Tuo and the people around her trying to find a way to reverse the effects. At the very least, they should have gone with a different storyline if they stuck with the amnesia plot.

Like all stories throughout time and across the world, LOTL leaves many plot holes and questions unanswered behind like why did Nie Jiuluo have a special constitute that allowed for her blood to kill Earth Fiends and recover quickly, however, none of this should discourage anyone from giving this show a try. I know I talked a lot about how unsatisfactory the end was but I can promise you, it's not as bad as I make it sound. The ending wasn't amazing but it wasn't particularly bad either, I just left out a lot of the other details that I did really like for the sake of not just "glazing" this show.

Overall, this is definitely a really good watch and if you like action, thriller, romance, any of that good stuff, you will definitely have a great time watching Love on the Turquoise Land and I hope that for whoever gives this drama a try, you have as amazing of an experience as I did.

Read More

A Beautiful Mix of Ancient Mystery, Romance, and Culture ( Updated review )

Watching Love on the Turquoise Land was like stepping into a world full of beautiful landscapes, secrets, and slow-building emotions. From the very beginning, the show drew me in with its amazing visuals and the strong chemistry between the leads. Over the course of 32 episodes, it kept delivering a mix of romance, mystery, and cultural richness that felt fresh and real.
The chemistry between the leads creates a dynamic that’s fun to watch as their initial suspicion transforms into grudging trust and burgeoning partnership. Fans of Dilraba Dilmurat will find her appearance and performance especially memorable in this role, where she exudes strength and vulnerability in equal measure.​


★What the Story is About :-
- The drama follows Nie Jiu Luo, a strong and independent woman from a local tribe, and Yan Tuo, a calm investigator from the city. He comes to the turquoise land to look into some suspicious activities around the local mines. At first, they don’t trust each other, but as they work together, their relationship slowly changes into something deeper—with plenty of tension and moments that keep you rooting for them.

- As the story goes on, it dives into political power struggles, family secrets, and the challenges of holding onto tradition while facing modern problems. Other characters bring extra layers to the story, and the drama does a good job of mixing serious moments with lighter ones.

- In the last episodes, the tension builds with exciting twists and reveals about Nie Jiu Luo’s past and the mysterious power of the land itself. The ending ties up most storylines but still leaves you thinking about the themes of identity and trust.


★What I Loved the Most :-
1. The Chemistry Was Amazing - Nie Jiu Luo and Yan Tuo had such a fiery, intense vibe. They started off fighting and being suspicious of each other, which made their slow path to falling for one another super rewarding. Every time they had a quiet moment, or when YT helped NJL, it felt like a big deal, not just a typical drama romance.

2. Nie Jiu Luo: 'The Independent, Badass Lead' - NJL, the "Mad Blade," was a fantastic female lead. She wasn't waiting around for a man to save her. She was portrayed as a capable, independent force who was often the one doing the rescuing . Her action scenes were powerful and cool, and she could handle her own business. To see her being the strong and capable was a refreshing change from the typical female leads who require constant saving .

3. The Vibe was so Unique - The show did a great job mixing the normal, modern world with the spooky, supernatural stuff. It looked really cool and had a moody, sophisticated feel. The design of the Earth Fiends (especially the chillingly composed Lin Xi Rou and the intimidating Xiong Hei) and the idea of ancient secrets hiding in a modern city gave the drama a very distinct and captivating style.

4. Intriguing Mystery and Lore - The overarching mystery rooted in the ancient Qin Dynasty and the search for the Earth Fiend origins was genuinely intriguing. The show kept dropping cool hints about the ancient hunters and the secret group, making you want to watch the next episode just to figure out the whole puzzle.


★What Could Have Been Better :-
1. Pacing Was Up and Down - The start of the drama was kind of slow, it took a while to explain all the Tangled Army and Earth Fiend background stuff, which made those first few episodes a bit of a drag. But then, the ending felt too fast, wrapping up the main bad guy (Lin Xi Rou) and the big final mysteries way too quickly.

2. Yan Tuo Was Confusing Sometimes - He was supposed to be this complex, maybe even a little shady, guy at the start. But then he quickly became a very standard hero. The drama didn't really deal with his early mean behavior toward Nie Jiu Luo or his sketchy ties to Lin Xi Rou's family, so his sudden shift to being a good guy felt a little too easy.

3. Did We Really Need the Amnesia? - Using the amnesia plot device for Nie Jiu Luo felt unnecessary. It just stopped the main story and the romance right in their tracks for a while. It seemed more like a quick way to slow down the plot than a natural part of the supernatural danger.

4. The Supernatural Rules Weren't Always Clear - Even though the world looked amazing, the show didn't always clearly explain the rules for the Earth Fiends or the Qingrang power. A few clearer explanations of how their magic worked or how the human and fiend powers were different in fights would have made the action and thriller parts even better.

★Fav Scenes :-
1. Hair flowing scene - ep 1
2. The ML and FL fighting in episode 4 — I honestly couldn’t tell if they were fighting or flirting because their banter was so playful and full of sparks, hehe.
3. ML Afraid of waking her up by opening the car door and decided to wait and eat outside so that she could sleep a bit more - ep 9 ( small action matters a lot ♡ )
4. ML doing push ups with FL on his back - ep 26
5. That quiet scene where Yan Tuo hands Nie Jiu Luo a small gift — simple but so meaningful, showing how much they’ve grown close.

★Dialogue Highlights : My Fav Quotes
I loved how sharp the dialogue was, especially when Nie Jiu Luo and Yan Tuo were clashing or getting intense. My favorite lines really captured the whole "us against the world" vibe of the show.

1. A top quote for me has to be Yan Tuo's almost dangerous-sounding challenge to Nie Jiu Luo: "If you really can't get along with the beast, then working with me is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." It sums up their risky partnership perfectly!

2. I also loved when one of the characters (often Nie Jiu Luo, the "Mad Blade") would say something tough and defining about the danger they face, like : "Only a knife can kill the beast completely," or the simple, chilling phrase : "Humans are humans, beasts are beasts. We are divided, but we are united" . That last one perfectly captures the weird line they walk between the human and Earth Fiend worlds.

3. Another great one was Yan Tuo's sarcastic comeback to the villain Lin Xi Rou where he said something like, "Since you look down so much on humans, why insist on wanting to become human?"—a line that really hit the villain where it hurt and showed his sharp mind.


★Final Thoughts :-
Overall, Love on the Turquoise Land is a drama I really enjoyed and would recommend. It’s got great actors, a unique setting, and a story that keeps you curious and emotionally invested. It might not be perfect, but it’s definitely worth watching if you like slow-burn romance mixed with thriller and culture.

If you’re debating whether to start, the first four episodes deliver enough intrigue, slow-burn romance, and stunning visuals for you to decide whether its your cup of tea or not. So the decision is yours but one thing i want to say is ...If you’re into dramas with strong leads and a story that’s both beautiful and thought-provoking, give this one a try!!!

Thank you for taking the time to read my review! Hope it helps you decide if Love on the Turquoise Land is your next drama to watch . You can drop your thoughts here—I would love to read and discuss them with you ♡♡♡ .

Read More

A hymn to love

Do I recommend the series? Yes, I do. There are wonderful, iconic, unforgettable moments and with a bright and promising happy ending for the lieds, Nie Jiu Luo and Yan Tuo.

If you read my review, consider all the very positive aspects of LOTTL. Are there any drawbacks? Yes, like everything in life, but LOTTL will please you.

Although these observations lie between subjective and technical perspectives, the series is extremely captivating. There are countless scenes that I will keep with immense affection for their poetic beauty and because the story of NJL and Yt is a hymn to love!

Abbreviations for the names of characters mentioned in the review:

NJL - Nie Jiu Luo
YT- Yan Tuo
LXR -Li Xin Rou
XS - Xing Shen
LX - Lv Xian
XH - Xiong Hei
LL - Lin Ling
(Yu Rong, Que Cha and Lu Jie are also mentioned, but I didn't use abbreviations)

■The qualities of the series:

The leads

Dilraba's performance reached a level of maturity and magnetism rarely seen in actors, especially those of her generation. It's no wonder she's so persecuted, as people only throw stones at trees bearing fruit. It's challenging to define her performance in a few words, but even so, I dare to highlight her ability to convey a multitude of subtle microexpressions that carry a powerful emotional charge that kidnaps and mobilizes the viewer's emotions to the very limit. Dilraba's character is the most complex, the most challenging to interpret; she manages to reconcile wild firmness, femininity, sweetness, fury, compassion, love, pragmatism, childishness, maturity, vigor/strength/courage in opposition to her fragility as a human being susceptible to trauma, such as her phobia of water. This character, Nie Jiu Luo, is already consecrated as legend and a classic that shines in the pantheon of great heroines.

I make this very personal point, and I ask for permission from those who think differently: NJL is nothing like Lara Croft. Nie Jiu Luo is unique because she has immense human depth, she is like us, someone truly made of flesh and blood. Her spirit bears the deep traces of ancient Chinese roots. She herself is a sculpture with carvings that did not copy models, that were inspired only by the subtlety of the worldview so peculiar to China. The black outfit (which would be the only similarity...), despite being daring and exuding sensuality, is sober and extremely feminine in contrast to Lara Croft, who has a masculinized, eroticized profile, almost like a soldier, clearly violent with her excess of pistols.

Nie Jiu Luo is a warrior who, with a simple knife, terrifies powerful enemies without losing her dragonfly aura.

Chen Xing Xu

Besides being physically a Greek god, CXX also delivered a sensitive and mature performance, portraying and giving dimension to a wide spectrum of feelings, behaviors, and gestures. CXX masters facial and body expression, magnetizing with his gaze, in a performance that expresses, with depth, the universe of those who love, those who suffer, those who strategically dissimulate, whether in the context of the conflicting and affectionate relationship between YT and NJL, in the context of tension or sublime moments, or in the context of depression, loneliness, and silent despair. CXX manages to reconcile masculinity with gentleness and sweetness, the dream of any woman.

▪︎Positive points of the series:

1- It offered a high-quality spectacle, with a refined line of thought that skillfully and balancedly utilized artistic, poetic, and psychological/psychiatric concepts.

2- It presented an intriguing, intelligent, daring, and even surprising story, focusing on affective relationships, philosophically rich, intricately woven with psychic and behavioral explorations, and permeated with originality.

3- It presented solid, strong, iconic, well-defined, and coherent characters, tinged with lyrical touches.

4- It produced a well-written plot, with well-concatenated and connected facts, well-developed, and permeated with artistic beauty and poetry. The novel even includes quotes from poems by Li Bai and Du Fu, two of China's greatest poets, which explains the production's clear attention to aesthetic aspects, not only visually, but also in the lyrical message in which the story builds the characters NJL, YT, LL, LX, LJ (yes, even LJ, who captivated everyone. They publicized a scene of her as a fiend and, without any explanation to the public, there was no development), all profoundly human and overflowing with lyricism, very subtle in their feelings, gestures, and behaviors.

5- Very well-structured aesthetics and cinematographic aspects that act on the viewer's emotional universe, with meticulously explored environments, enhancing the viewer's immersion, in addition to atmospheres that range from luminosity to shadow, from dim light to darkness, but always strongly contrasting with the light (Example: scene of Guo Ya's execution, episode 11).

6- The series has an almost dizzying pace that balances action, emotion, tension, violence, humor, anxiety, love, delicacy, lightness, and density.

7- An intelligent, engaging plot, unpredictable (although it lost coherence and rationality from episode 22 onwards).

8- Impeccable costume design.(with the exception of hunters, I'll talk more specifically about that later in the review)

9- Solid characters with well-structured characteristics, well-articulated and believable emotional and psychological aspects (up to episode 22).

10- Perfect chemistry between the leads, the direction explores sensuality without trivialization, and develops the relationship between the leads with an engaging progression.

11- Impeccable acting from all the actors.

12- Impactful fight scenes that don't exploit excessive blood, but well-coordinated blows with good choreography (The final scenes of the long-awaited final battle in the cave were disappointing, bland, lacking significant movement/choreography.)

▪︎Negative Points/Plot Holes in the Series

The pillars of the series began to crumble in the final 10 episodes. These are the main flaws/holes in the series:

1- The disappearance of YT's sister, is a deep wound in his life (and in ours...). This fact is presented to us throughout the series, however, we are left without a clear answer and with the mere presumption that she was murdered as a child. This assumption is suggested in episode 31, during a dream of YT, who was recovering from injuries sustained in the final battle in the cave. In the dream, she appears for the first time in a luminescent aura, evoking another state of life, and says that she has always been there, that she is very happy, and runs to a very bright portal and disappears upon entering it. YT wakes up... He, and we, also wake up to a nightmare that persists.

2- NJL's rescue: how did YT get out of that place, sweeping NJL away? How did he manage to reach and exit through the high ceiling where the hole he fell through was located, separating the river from the dry cave where NJL lay in a dome? How did he manage to carry her without supplemental oxygen, to get NJL to the surface of the river? This couldn't have been left to our imagination.

3- YT burned his hands to break through the scalding dome where NJL lay, but he didn't have ANY scars. It's therefore implausible.

4- What happened to LXR's housekeeper? She was complicit in all the horrors committed by LXR, but she disappeared from the scene, as did the mansion and possessions that LXR stole from YT's family.

5- What happened to the children's asylum (in the middle of the forest, also implausible), an important part of the plot and where the series begins, it was part of YT's life.

6- Lu Jie, did they give up on explaining her identity? Or did they create two arcs and choose to keep her as the dedicated and maternal housetaker? Or was this scene created by AI? We'll never know...

7- And the Locust? They gave the simple solution of a team of biologists simply collecting it: end of its story, let's accept it. In other words, Locust had no function whatsoever.

■ Some personal impressions on the genre of the series

It is not a simple task to discuss the sources of Chinese cinematographic production, since even science fiction works resonate with the ancient roots of the country's culture, notably the influence of "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" (Chinese: 山海经, Shanhai-jing), a Chinese classic text and a compilation of mythic geography and beasts.

The series blends mystic, legends, history, science fiction, suspense, horror, romance, and adventure, in a cocktail that reminds me of the atmospheres of Alien, Blade Runner, The Shining, Rosemary's Baby, and The Name of the Rose.

These impressions make no comparison between these works and Chinese cinematographic narrative, structure, and aesthetics, whose creative process is supported by its own technical elements, is inspired by national sources that have consolidated their own standard, in a movement that starts from within the country and extends outward, with a life of its own, because it's free from Western formulas.

■Final very personal considerations

It's not about leaving doubts in the air for a possible season 2, because, technically speaking, that's done by leaving narratives open, but what we saw was a narrative that lost cohesion, it was split in half, each half became another story, separate from the whole, the viewer falls into a dark abyss, I felt stunned in the pasty and opaque atmosphere of the final 4 episodes.

The leads, LXR, and other characters lost the impact of their significance and were excluded from the much-anticipated climax, namely, the elimination of LXR, which was given as a gift to NJL's mother, a secondary character who is merely a detail in the story. LXR, a strong, solid, and memorable character, didn't progress in the final four episodes, and the expected final battle never happened. LXR faded and perished without any real fight. Besides having a, let's say, painless death, given the speed with which she was decapitated, it offered no impact, not even visually, and didn't calm our hearts, because we all expected an epic showdown between her and Mad Blade that would live up to her reputation. We didn't see LXR being chopped to pieces, cleansing the soul of Justice. So, was decapitation enough to kill her? And if only NJL's mother's sword could kill LXR, it would have been so symbolic if she threw the sword to NJL and she fulfilled her last mission. The same I say about SH, ZERO emotion, no confrontation, merely pushed into the abyss. The self-sacrifice o XS didn't move me.

Another solid and captivating character, Yu Rong, with her rebellious personality and casual/grunge look, was completely deconstructed and transformed into a well-behaved lady, just like Que Cha, both running a teahouse (at the end of the series).

The climax of the plot, and of several subplots, was aborted, and in its place the director and writer planted these and other quick fixes, like instant noodles, dismantling the plot, the key characters, killing almost all the hunters and turning heroes into fools waiting to be caught by a single hook, in a simple, laughable, childish way. On the other hand, YT's acting in the battle was kind of pathetic, and that tranquilizer dart gun in the context of such a battle was beyond ridiculous.

Well...and at the end...Where did that character from the NJL exhibition come from, whose father buys all NJL's work? No connection to anything, he parachuted into the story. In the final scene, where a museum TV appears (I didn't understand this choice), his father, whom we don't see in the scene, only hear, is talking to him on the phone. From the dialogue, it seems to be a humanized fiend that's still left. If the goal was just to give the series an open ending, after so many deaths, both of civilians turned into blood bags and of hunters, it's regrettable because it undermines the moral of the story. If the goal is to suggest a second season, I feel totally encouraged to embark on this journey with Dilraba and Chen Xing Xu, explosive chemistry, impeccable acting.

Finally, that delightfully natural relationship between NJL and YT is lost in the final scenes, they've lost their warmth, they become artificial in impersonal, sumptuous scenes, as if they were about to parade on the red carpet. It wasn't the fact that they were dressed in a sophisticated way that made them seem artificial in their relationship, but rather that they seemed very formal with each other, considering the level of intimacy between them. It would have been more welcoming and in keeping with the story if the two had been camping on that iconic mountain, watching the sunrise as a clear symbol of a new life.

Read More

An Addictive Journey — Compelling Story and Gorgeous Visuals That Kept Me Watching

Between the gorgeous visuals and the intriguing story that kept pulling me in, I enjoyed this show! It’s not a perfect 10 but it was still a genuinely great watch. Not every fight scene was epic, but the thrilling ones were done so well that they stood out—though not quite enough to make up for the rather underwhelming final face-off.

Truly, I cannot sing high enough praises for Dilraba and Cheng Xin Yu—Dilraba was a full visual and dramatic event: her aesthetics, her styling, her acting… this might just be one of my favorite roles of hers. CXX held his own beautifully too, and together they were an absolutely eye-catching pair. Independent yet intertwined, each saving and supporting the other—it’s the kind of partnership that makes you root for them all the way through.

Watching them go from antagonistic, reluctant partners to an undeniably devoted couple was such a good journey. Their snarkiness toward each other was entertaining, and when the walls finally came down, their sweetness was genuinely heartwarming. That evolving dynamic made their relationship one of the biggest highlights of the show for me.

The side characters weren’t as deeply developed, but still managed to tug on my feelings when things happened to them. There were definitely missed opportunities, though—some characters were this close to becoming far more interesting had the show allowed them to go rogue or redeemed themselves with a bit more flair.

The pacing? Well… the middle portion could have been better and developed more thoroughly. Many viewers started wondering why the hunters were basically on an extended coffee break. At one point I commented that half the cast seemed to exist solely to fill space—decorative NPC energy. But despite the lag, the story itself was fascinating, and honestly I’m tempted to rewatch just to catch all the little clues and reveals I probably missed the first time.

A shoutout to the OST: I loved the closing-credit track—it was one of those songs that made me sit through the credits on purpose (which by the way, featured cut scenes from the episode). And the mostly instrumental background score was well done. It elevated the tension, softened the quieter moments, and made the emotional beats land harder. The music team absolutely understood the assignment.

The suspense and build-up were solid, the thrilling scenes delivered, and the villains were unsettling in all the right ways. Zhang Li’s Lin Yi Rou, in particular, was a standout—her controlled, calm intensity made her even scarier than the monstrous un-evolved Earth Fiends. Also, let’s be honest: Lin Yi Rou did it all while serving looks. Every outfit was immaculate, every appearance a fashion statement with menace. Sun Xi also deserves praise for portraying the humanoid Xiong Hei with such a striking blend of robotic detachment and surprising emotional nuance—his performance added an eerie, memorable layer to the villain roster.

Even though the show wrapped up well and tied off the major loose ends, the finale did carry a bit of a “let’s just get this over with” vibe—as if the writers were too tired to fully develop the late-game characters they introduced. Still, I’m satisfied overall, and I am so ready for any possible season 2.

Read More

A drama where you end up falling for every single character. Truly enchanting, truly a masterpiece.

Love on the Turquoise Land is one of those rare dramas that doesn’t just tell a story it builds a whole fictional world of characters, emotions that feels strangely alive. And the thing that hooked me right from the start wasn’t just the plot or the scenery it was the cast. Every single character NJL, YT, LXR, XH, LL, LX, XS, YR and everyone else showed up were just perfect. Nobody was filler. Nobody was flat. They all carried their own weight and made this fantasy world come alive.

Fantasy adaptations are really difficult to adapt as you start with nothing but imagination and a blank canvas, and somehow the production team managed to bring out the novel’s atmosphere into these gorgeous, surreal landscapes. The director and team deserve real praise for scouting and building such a visually poetic world, and the writer she stitched together a story that felt engaging from beginning to end. People love to complain about pacing, but honestly, I never felt anything was "off." Every minute had purpose. Every pause held meaning. And let’s not forget that a ton of scenes had benn chopped off thanks to chinese censorship which explains the uneven episode lengths yet the emotional core still stayed intact.

The hunters’ storyline was one of the most unexpectedly grounded parts of the show. They weren’t framed as superheroes. They were exactly what a 200-year-old clan fighting evolved monsters would be brave but outmatched, loyal but imperfect. They’d never seen di xiao before, so of course they weren’t automatically powerful. The show didn’t romanticize bravery it showed how human weakness and stubborn courage can coexist. Their loyalty to their ancestors felt genuine, not forced, and it made their struggles hit harder.

And then… NJL. The moment she stepped on screen, everything locked into place. She was exactly how readers imagined her ethereal, self assured, aloof, empathetic, a little cocky, and quietly royal in her energy. Dilraba didn’t just play NJL she embodied her. She brought out every layer the princess elegance, the sharp intelligence, the emotional restraint, the internal storms she hides behind her regal posture. She gave NJL color, texture, breath. This role proved once again that she’s not just a pretty face she’s a force of nature when given a character with depth.

YT, meanwhile, felt like the perfect counterpart to her. Their chemistry is natural, unforced the kind that doesn’t need dramatic declarations to be felt. CXX acted the role with precision, giving YT the subtle masculinity, quiet strength, and emotional maturity needed to match NJL’s fire without dimming it.

LXR was deliciously wicked every smile had a blade behind it. XH was comedy gold; the man’s expressions alone could carry a whole episode. Haha.. his reaction to discovering NJL was the nanshen hunter still cracks me up. XS yes, controversial, but his motives came from loyalty, not malice, so don't hate him too much. YR came in like the badass she was meant to be. LX was the lovable, necessary chaos in the Wei Yu stories, and the rest of the supporting cast FM, uncle jiang, and everyone did so well that there were no weak links.

Watching this drama felt… satisfying. Deeply, aesthetically, emotionally satisfying.
To anyone still hesitating if you're into suspense, thriller, rich worldbuilding, and romance that sneaks under your skin, then this drama is absolutely worth your time. Don’t let random unfair ratings fool you this show is a gem, crafted with care, talent, and a cast that delivered beyond expectations.

A masterpiece isn’t always loud, sometimes it’s just consistently excellent. This drama is exactly that.

Read More

QUICK TAKE ON LOTTL

When I think about Love on the Turquoise Land, the first thing that hits me is how layered the storyline feels. It builds this eerie atmosphere where myth and reality slowly bleed into each other. At times, the pacing drags a little, but honestly that slow burn is what makes the reveals land harder.
The acting really carries it. Dilraba as Nie Jiu Luo nails that balance of vulnerability and strength — you can feel her fear but also her stubborn courage. Chen Xingxu as Yan Tuo has this obsessive energy that makes you both root for him and worry about him. Their chemistry is what keeps the emotional core alive, even when the plot gets heavy.

Casting overall feels spot‑on. The leads fit their roles perfectly, and the supporting cast adds texture. The directing was wise in adapting to the novel. The team leaned hard into shadows and Moody atmosphere. You get the sense that every frame is meant to feel haunted, like the past is always pressing in. As a whole, the drama works because it blends myth, romance, and betrayal into something that feels both ancient and modern. It’s not perfect but the performances and the atmosphere make it memorable.

Read More

Ancient Mysteries and a Romance That Slowly and Beautifully Unfolds

Watching Love on the Turquoise Land has truly been a thrilling ride a rare blend of fantasy, romance, mystery, and supernatural intrigue that kept me hooked from the first episode to the finale. What stood out most are the deeply drawn characters and the emotional journey they undergo.

The female lead, Nie Jiu Luo, brings a grounded realism to a fantastical premise. Her life is ordinary until the hidden legacy of the “Nanshan Hunters” drags her into a web of secrets and danger. Her strength isn’t just physical: it's the emotional turmoil of discovering who she truly is, and the burden that heritage entails. The way she grapples with identity, responsibility, fear and hope felt authentic and moving throughout the series.

The male lead, Yan Tuo, is compellingly layered. Initially rigid and guarded, shaped by years of familial pressure and distrust, he gradually softens not in a sudden, trope heavy way but through hard choices and shared danger. His evolving trust in Nie Jiu Luo, and the solidarity they build together, makes their bond believable and earned. Watching his vulnerability emerge, and how it transforms him, was one of the most rewarding arcs of the show.

The dynamic between them first tension, then mutual respect, then something deeper unfolds with nuance and care. Their collaboration under pressure, moments of life-and-death reliance, and the growing empathy beneath the surface conflicts created a romance that felt earned rather than manufactured.

Beyond the leads, the world building and supporting cast added richness and mystery. The threads about ancient immortal secrets, “earth-owls,” and powers beyond the ordinary gave a sense that the universe of the story is much larger than just the two main characters and that gives room for tension, wonder, and meaningful stakes.

I also appreciated how the drama balances emotion with adventure: it isn’t purely about romance or fantasy, but about legacy, choices, and confronting the unknown.

All in all, for its character depth, emotional resonance, chemistry, and sense of wonder, Love on the Turquoise Land absolutely earns my full 10/10. I encourage viewers to watch it and form their own opinions.

Read More

FRESH AND UNIQUE: Why you should watch love on the turquoise land.

After a modern C-drama drought, "Love on the Turquoise Land" has completely pulled me back in. This fantasy drama might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's certainly mine. I'm eagerly awaiting each new episode!

The show's premise is captivating: a group of monstrous Earth Fiends wreaking havoc, leading the Emperor to form the South Mountain Hunters. Years later, the Fiends return, now in human form, and the Hunters must reunite. The world-building is fantastic, slowly unveiling the rules of this world, introducing characters, and establishing their motivations. The pacing is perfect—neither rushed nor slow—keeping me hooked. Action-packed fight scenes, fantasy elements, a touch of sci-fi, and a blend of comedy and romance make for a compelling watch.

Dilraba shines as the lead, her character both fierce and vulnerable. Chen Xingxu is equally brilliant, bringing a witty intensity to his role. Their chemistry is undeniable, their relationship blossoming amidst the chaos. The romance unfolds naturally, enhancing the story without overshadowing the main plot.

Final review

This show absolutely deserves more recognition! It's frustrating when something unique and different doesn't get the appreciation it deserves. The production is excellent, and while it could have been even better, it's still undeniably good.

The world-building is phenomenal; I'd love to delve deeper into the stories and character backgrounds, but even with limitations, they've managed to create something captivating. The storyline is entertaining and flows seamlessly, and the acting is superb.

The action scenes are solid, and the romance is surprisingly well-executed, proving once again that romance in non-romance shows is often top-tier. Dilraba and Chen Xingxu's chemistry is amazing! Overall, it's an amazing watch. If you enjoy the genre, you'll definitely find it worth your time. As a modern, avid CDrama watcher, it's refreshing to see something new and unique, and this show delivers exactly that. I hope they continue to make more; the storyline has so much potential for further exploration. It felt like those Western shows that run for seasons, fleshing out characters, stories, and backstories – I'd happily watch more!"

Read More

mixed feelings ?

if you are in it for the romance it's great , the plot not so much .
you get a great start with all mystery around lin xirou , earth fiends, South mountain hunters and our ML and FL.

we got to know yan tou's and nie jiluo' background which was great .
the characters' individual growth and development was great

in the end we were left with some unanswered questions what happened to yan tou 's sister is she dead , how did jieluo's mother become that white haired earth demon ? what is she doing in the twilight chasm ?

the ending was so anticlimactic , from lin xirou's death , deaths of hunters and how the ending turned out as a whole , for me the ending was disappointing, it's like that kept building up for nothing .

yet glad it was a happy ending , FL losing her memory of ML was so uncessary .

Read More