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 ♡♡♡ .
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Dilraba slayed ???
After Coroners Diary, this was the second Chinese drama this year that I watched while it was airing. I started most dramas this year but dropped them after the first episodes—they just didn’t make me want to continue. But this one really tempted me to keep watching.The moment it truly became one of my favorites—when I told myself “I really like this”—was episodes 5 and 6, and by episodes 9 and 10 I was completely in love with it.
I don’t agree with people who say its pacing was slow. Sure, some parts moved calmly, but it had a beautiful sense of tranquility, and within that calm, it gave you good information about the plot—like the quiet conversations between Xing Shen and Mahanzi.
My favorite episodes were 28 and 29. They were all amazing and turned out so well. Usually, the final battle in dramas feel repetitive to me, but this one was exciting—especially when a third enemy suddenly appeared and made everything even more interesting.
The ending can be seen as open, meaning there are still Di Xiao wandering on earth, and this story will never truly end.
I just hope Jiuluo and Yantu can live peacefully for a long time.
The acting was incredible. Dilraba shone beautifully, and besides her, the supporting roles like Lin Shirou and Xing Shen were excellent. Lin Shirou played her part so well—despite her beauty and charm, she was a charismatic villain.
I also really liked Feng Mi and the doctor.
My rating for this drama is 9. 5 out of 10.
I wasn’t okay with some of the scene pacing, but they weren’t a big deal.
Overall, I enjoyed it, and if you’re a fan of the genre, I recommend it.
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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.
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2
2
1A beautiful but fleeting moment.
If I could rate purely based on the visuals alone, Love on the Turquoise Land would be a 10/10. The cinematography was stunning. The director knew exactly how to create an atmospheric and moody world that was easy for me to immerse myself in and fall in love with. There were so many times when it felt like I could actually smell the dampness of the trees and feel the mist of the fog kissing my bare skin. If I were to reach my hand through the screen, I just might be able to touch whatever was in front of me. The lighting, artistic camera angles, cinematic framing — every scene was a magazine-worthy shot. The vibes? Immaculate. The beauty of this drama was my biggest motivation to keep watching.Unfortunately, looks can only get you so far. In the end, depth and substance are what matter most, and that is what this drama lacked. For 32 episodes, not a lot happened. We fell into a trap of repetition; the cat-and-mouse games the hunters and earth fiends played got exhausting really quick. The slow narrative pacing held this drama back from being exceptional. I understand the suspense the writers were trying to build, but the void of urgency, accountability, and consequences for the majority of the drama was what dropped this from a potentially thrilling epic about protecting humanity from a greater evil down to a low-stakes story of generic heroes vs. villains.
Which brings me to my next point: the characters left me feeling conflicted. I rooted for the hunters because I believed in their mission, but subjectively speaking, I thought the earth fiends were more compelling. Compared to their mortal enemies, the hunters lacked personality and charisma. Their relationships felt curated like a group of coworkers united by a common duty. Their bonds were like the visuals — pretty to look at and made sense in theory, but missing genuine heart. In contrast, the earth fiends' connections felt more organic; they came off as a real family bound by a shared desperation to survive in a foreign world. I liked both groups of characters, maybe one a little more than the other, but I never felt a deep emotional attachment to either of them. During pivotal moments that should've devastated me, when their lives were at stake, I found myself mostly unaffected. And that was the problem.
While I enjoyed the experience of actively watching this drama, the storytelling was underwhelming. It didn't have the pull needed to make me pick it back up once I walked away, which was why it took me over a month to complete this. In another month, I'll probably only remember the cinematography and the vibes, but forget everything else. Because of that, I would summarize Love on the Turquoise Land as a beautiful but fleeting moment — like the warmth from light that is pleasant to bask in, but ultimately destined to fade once the screen goes dark. I don't recommend this for those who require more depth to their characters and more excitement in their plots, but those who love a visually rich drama and don't mind a slower-paced story will find many things to appreciate in this.
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A magnificent audiovisual production on a very "weird" storyline
Mystery-Thriller-Fantasy ❤ with Dilraba & Chen Xing XuPLOT: The FL, a sculptor, was trained from childhood to be the Mad Blade in the Nanshan Hunters team (a team that has protected humanity from the Fiends—demons of Earth—for generations). She encounters the ML, Roadsound group's heir, led by Lin Xi Rou (a Fiend who took human form and killed the ML's parents). This pharmaceutical group serves as a cover for Lin Xi Rou to "humanize" other Fiends. The ML (who wants to avenge his parents and find his missing sister) will help the FL, gain her trust, and join the team in their fight against the Fiends.
+++ Dilraba and Chen Xing Xu are fantastic, both in their interactions (real chemistry) and in the action scenes. ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡
+++ Amazing soundtracks, wonderfully creepy, perfectly suited to the atmosphere.
+++ A cast of excellent actors, talented, convincing, and some genuinely creepy.
+++ Dynamic direction with high-quality CGI (the Chinese are truly masters of this field :)
### The Team is a bunch of misfits who eat and chat, but don't train, don't know how to be prepared... lots of "archaic" rituals and traditions, but nothing else. Brave, but mostly useless.
### The storyline becomes INCOHERENT in the Golden Gate narrative arc: this generation has never been there, but they seem to know the route. They don't even have a way to communicate with those in the mine who are improvising by blowing everything up!! But the Gate Team is even worse (improvising, with Xing Shen summoning demons, etc.). Utter nonsense !!
٩(╬ʘ益ʘ╬) ٩(╬ʘ益ʘ╬) Not to mention the descent into the abyss by diving without any regard for the rules (decompression stops, communication, etc.) ٩(╬ʘ益ʘ╬)
Finally, we'll never know how YT and NJL managed to escape the final "matrix".
=> A magnificent audiovisual production on a very "weird" storyline. The novelist is creative, but it must be a daily nightmare in her head :(
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Myst-Thriller-Fant ❤ avec Dilraba & Chen Xing Xu
PLOT : La FL, sculptrice, a été formée toute son enfance à être la Lame Folle dans la team des chasseurs de Nanshan (team qui protège l'humanité des Fiends - démons de la Terre, depuis des générations). Elle croise le ML, héritier du gpe Roadsound , dirigé par Lin Xi Rou (fiend ayant pris apparence humaine, a tué les parents du ML). Ce gpe pharmaceutique sert de couverture à Lin Xi Rou pr "humaniser" les autres fiends. Le ML (qui veut venger ses parents et retrouver sa soeur disparue) va aider la FL, gagner sa confiance et rejoindre la Team ds sa lutte contre les fiends.
+++ Dilraba & Chen Xing Xu sont ts les 2 fantastiques, tant ds leurs interactions (réelle alchimie) que ds les scènes d'action. ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡
+++ OSTs d'enfer, flippantes à souhait, très adaptées à l'atmosphère.
+++ Un paquet d'excellents acteurs, talentueux, convaincants, flippants pr certains.
+++ Réalis° dynamique, avec des CGI de qualité (les chinois sont vraiment les maitres ds ce domaine :)
### La Team est une équipe de bras cassés, qui mange, discute, mais ne s'entraine pas, ne sait pas se préparer, ... bcp de rituels "archaiques" et de traditions, mais rien d'autre. Courageux, mais inutiles pr la plupart.
### La storyline devient INCOHERENTE ds l'arc narratif de la Porte Dorée : cette génération n'y est jamais allée, mais ils ont l'air de savoir l’itinéraire. Ils n'ont mm pas de moyen de communicat° avec ceux de la mine qui improvisent en faisant tout exploser !! Mais la Team de la Porte est encore pire (ds l'impro, avec Xing Shen qui appelle les démons, etc.). Du grand n'importe quoi ٩(╬ʘ益ʘ╬) ٩(╬ʘ益ʘ╬) Sans compter la descente dans le gouffre en plongée sans aucun respect des règles (remontée par paliers, communicat°, etc.) ٩(╬ʘ益ʘ╬) Pour finir, on ignorera tjs comment YT et NJL ont réussi à sortir de la "matrice" finale.
=> Une magnifique réalis° audio-visuelle sur une storyline très "perchée". La romancière est créative, mais ç doit être le cauchemar dans sa tête au quotidien :(
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This review may contain spoilers
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.
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Humans, fiends and a beautiful love story !!!
Love on Turquoise land has a very good premise of a long lasting battle between South mountain hunters, on the humans side, trying to protect the world from evil and earth fiends on the opposite side, trying to get a foothold for themselves, since they were formed by a meteor crash on the earth.As the story unfolds, we are introduced to the Nanshan hunters group,the antagonist Lin Xi Rou and her gang and the main leads, Nie Jiu Luo and Yan Tuo.
The story proceeds with a steady pace, with unexpected twists and turns, and manages to keep us engaged in the drama.
The acting of all the cast is fabulous. Diliraba as Nie Jiu Luo and Chen Xingxu, as Yan Tuo, were perfectly cast.
Zhang Li, as Lin Xi Rou, is excellent in her performance, as she gives us that, creepy, crazy, eerie, fearsome feeling when she arrives on screen. Her acting was amazing.
The special effects were good.
What I liked about this drama is the matured, beautiful Love story between Nie Jiu Luo and Yan Tuo, which makes this drama much livelier and better, given its dark and mysterious premise.
The development of love between them and their chemistry is very good.
Also, I liked the fact that although it revolves around fiends, the story focused and showed the emotions of each and every character involved. The anxiety, angst, fear, pain, love, friendship,sacrifice,and all the emotions were portrayed well.
On a final note, Love on Turquoise Land, is a decent watch for its plot, mysteries, and a very good love story.
Though it has some flaws and sometimes may be boring, but definitely it is a MUST and VERY GOOD WATCH!! Kudos to the team👍👌👏
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This review may contain spoilers
Wolves in Sheep's Clothing VS The Grizzled Sheep Herder
Hello and welcome back to my dear review as usual. First of all, I need to tell you guys a great news – my exam period is over and now I’ve got a large amount of time to skim through dramas and write numerous reviews again (unlike my on-off hiatus period where I kept delaying). So, today’s review is about “Love on the Turquoise Land”, one of Wei Yu’s latest works which has gotten its live-action version. See my take about it below…“Love on the Turquoise Land” is a thriller sci-fi based on Wei Yu’s novel, which has a similar name as this one. It tells the story about the earth fiends, which has been terrorizing the humankind for centuries. I don’t really know how earth fiends come to exist today, but they may have some kind of mutated DNA or contract an unknown stuff, transforming them from ordinary humans into earth fiends. Due to the rampant earth fiends on the earth, the ancient emperor sent a special envoy to thwart the earth fiends and protect the humans. They will be later known as Nanshan Hunters, its legacy continues until this day (though the number of members is dwindling day by day).
By chance, one of its hunters is none other than Nie Jiuluo, also known as “Mad Blade”. She inherits the title following her mother’s sudden disappearance and her father’s suicide due to depression. As “Mad Blade”, Jiuluo isn’t exactly thrilled and badly wants to resign from the organization because it constantly reminds her of her late parents. Years pass and Jiuluo grows into an astute yet exceptionally beautiful woman. To spend her free time, Jiuluo practices sculpting and sells her arts to make ends meet.
In one of her travels to the countryside, she accidentally meets her fated partner, Yan Tuo. On the outside, he is Roadsound Group’s general manager. But inside, he is being controlled strictly by a mysterious woman named Lin Xirou (who steals his mother’s original name) and is seeking to gain the so-called freedom. At first, they have the kind of enemies-to-lovers vibes as they never see eye-to-eye plus they’re on different sides from the get go. However, as time passes by, they begin to understand each other’s inner wound and heal themselves as they carry out high-stake missions to end the existence of the deadly earth fiends.
Joining in their groups are Lv Xian (Yan Tuo’s doctor friend), Lin Ling (Yan Tuo’s adoptive sister), Yu Rong (“Ghost Whip” who only returns to China for the sake of quelling the earth fiends), Xing Shen (“Mad Dog”, a queer bigot who has a high prejudice against Yan Tuo, definitely always up to no good), and more Nanshan Hunters on the go.
If I want to be honest, the premise is actually intriguing and makes me deep-seated for this drama (since it’s Wei Yu’s project, of course I’ll watch it). Moreover, the earth fiend also sounds like a new plot device, which has never been touched by other sci-fi dramas before (except for “The Seven Relics of Ill Omen”). Last but not least, we’ve got a new plot twist where the earth fiends ACTUALLY transform into humanoid creatures and blend into the human world seamlessly that it is very hard to make a discrepancy between a human and an earth fiend. So, Nanshan Hunters’ task is to learn how these virulent creatures manage to turn into humans and how to stop them before the whole world is turned upside down by the fiends (FYI, fiends need blood bags to ensure their well-beings by forcing humans to have sexual interaction with the fiends and produce an offspring (blood bag, I mean)).
Despite the mysterious yet enthralling premise, the drama falls short in the plot including the how’s and why’s. First of all, Nanshan Hunters need to be modernized fully – since when people still use hammers as weapons? I do agree blades and whips are also antique weapons, but I still have a deep affinity for them, which is why I won’t be complaining about those two. Nanshan Hunters are quite indigent in terms of income earnings since they won’t even buy new equipment and prefer to eat and laugh and drink or brooding instead.
Second, the antagonists always seem to be having an upper hand (same case with “Snow Eagle Lord”) and Lin Xirou and her little gang get a considerable amount of screentime, which I immediately skip because I can’t stand how slow she speaks and talks (it’s an essential point for an antagonist, but maybe I’m just being impatient here). In addition, Lin Xirou also has many modern gadgets in the mansion and the farmhouse (where she experiments with the transformation). Also, other than Feng Mi, I can’t stand the other earth fiends (especially get pissed off by Xiong Hei).
Third, weak ML. If you watch carefully, Yan Tuo is pretty weak and fragile in combat skills (on par with Qin Fang from “Rattan”). All he does is acting and sweet-talking Lin Xirou as if life were a slapstick comedy series, tailing other people, spying, recording, trespassing, or brooding (waiting for Jiuluo to save him). Even when he cradles the tranquilizer gun as if it were a little baby, it doesn’t help with his brittleness and makes him look more pathetic, if you ask me.
Fourth, the wacky ending and WTH the amnesia plot is for? To me, the ending seems to be off a little bit and why does Jiuluo has to forget everything about Yan Tuo, but remembers other people like Ms. Lu and Yu Rong? And after he takes her out from the membrane bubble her mother creates, how can he dive back to the shore with Jiuluo on his back (oxygen may not be fully sufficient)? All of these are plot holes like blah blah blah and suddenly you’ve got a beautiful ending even though it’s not.
Fifth, Yan Tuo’s sister Yan Xin is another wasted plot device as he’s hellbent on searching for him when Lin Xirou only takes a second to inform him that she’s also dead alongside his murdered parents.
After the plot holes, I’ll talk about the acting. As usual, Dilraba Dilmurat delivers a phenomenal act as the badass Nie Jiuluo and embodies her character seamlessly. Other than her, I can’t imagine who can pull off such a complex girl like her. Meanwhile, for Chen Xingxu, it’s my first drama of him (I’m sorry to say that I’m not a fan of his, so I’ve always been avoiding his projects, and if it hadn’t been for Wei Yu, maybe I would’ve skipped his drama), and I don’t what to say about him honestly – he does well portraying Yan Tuo’s conflicted emotions, but he still has room for improvement. For Lin Xirou’s actress, Zhang Li, I truly want to say her performance is laudable and I hope see her more (but not in Lin Xirou’s fashion anymore). Other casts are good to mediocre at best – that’s all I can say.
CGI, background, settings are so-so to me (the fiends look tacky, and the lighting is so f*cking dark, I have to enhance my screen’s lighting so I can see visibly, normally I won’t do this tho). As for the OSTs, I can’t say too much as I tend to skip the opening and ending credits (my habit) and the drama provides only “Paper Star” by Yisa Yu during the confession part. I badly need an ooze of the opera song, but I’m just too lazy for it TT.
Will I be rewatching? Only for the first few skirmishes between Jiuluo and Yan Tuo. And the rest can be buried beneath the grounds. I’m sorry if I’m yapping too much because I’ve been bottling my feelings up for days before I finally pour it into this review. Okay, time to end it, good luck and happy watching!!!
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Well-written, well-styled, well-acted
Smart, relatable villains with personal conflict, working brains and solid writing from the authors? I'm in.A gray and weavering good side, with an honorable goal and dishonorable means? I'm in.
Add some 7-8 good actors for the main characters and a solid secondary cast for the secondary characters (which is rare!), and I'm watching. I haven't skipped or ffw anything.
When the villains are cartoon villains, mindless and cackling, who only know how to beat or kill like animals, there is no suspense and there is no display of inner character strength of the good guys. Everybody can decide to take down a cackling cartoony villain, but a person has to have absolute personal integrity and a functioning moral compass to take down a relatable, sympathetic villain they used to like.
When the good side is gray, it's very interesting to follow their journey to victory. I had low expectations, because cdramas are usually too superficial with why the good side must win, but this drama is deeper and grayer than usual. I may have watched less than 15 Cdramas that don't hesitate to paint the good side with dark tones.
The story makes sense, if you don't expect a romance and some decorative battles with little cute blood stains. There are centuries' old secrets that can't be revealed on episode 01, nor wait to be revealed on the last episode. There are interpesonal stakes and grudges and the paths are not clear. At times, there is a fuzzy line on who is on the villain side or whethere there is a line at all.
Even the minor characters have a background story, and I'm glad we are told about it but we don't linger on it with tedious side story arcs. The tropes are well-masked and well-integrated into the story, you never get the feeling that you are watching a to-do list.
The styling (allowing, of course, for the actors' good career management and fandom) is adapted to the story and is not focussed on pretty-pretty, unless the scene is about looking pretty. The cast looks nice, looks scruffy, looks beautiful, looks beaten to death, looks tired, looks ill, looks morning fresh, looks whatever the specific scene is about.
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This review may contain spoilers
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.
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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!"
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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.
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