Generation to Generation

watch carefully and you’ll understand all plot nodes! happy ending !

I have a huge love for this project, despite everything! The main theme of the drama is the problems of generations. If you find it difficult to watch historical dramas with complicated plots, conspiracies, and fights, then skip this drama. Don't even leave low ratings, as it would be unfair to such great project.
Many people have complained about acting, plot and the visuals.
I agree that the plot is complicated, and due to the number of important characters, it's difficult to understand who is against whom and which sect they follow. Despite the complexity of understanding the story, I enjoyed watching every episodes!!! I've seen many criticisms about the bluish filter, but I believe it perfectly complemented the overall picture on the screen, as well as the color palette of the outfits and settings of scenes. This added a sense of darkness and mystery to the story as it unfolded. There were also complaints about the editing and cutting of scenes, but I didn't notice anything like that, perhaps because I was focused on understanding the plot and the characters' stories.
Initially, I was excited about this drama because of the chemistry and beautiful visuals between Yi Zhan and Shang En. Although I wasn't familiar with Shang En's acting at the time they were filming the drama. Despite the criticism directed at her, I wasn't bothered by her performance. I appreciated the way she portrayed her character. Although she was impulsive and unapproachable, there was a heavy burden of responsibility in her heart, and she handled all the challenges with grace. Even after overcoming them, she carried them within her. Her eyes spoke volumes through the screen.
Yi Zhan is a true star of China! I'm thrilled to see him in a historical drama, dressed in such grandeur and with his long hair, which perfectly complemented his character. His gaze was penetrating and heart-wrenching. His acting was exceptional. Mu Qinyan had an enchanting aura, and he exuded energy and obsession towards Zhao. He was a master manipulator and schemer, but that's what you'd expect from someone representing a demonic sect. His plans were masterfully executed. Mu Qinian is really the kind of character that makes you want to keep watching the drama!
While watching, you deeply get attached to all the supporting characters!
Almost immediately, I started to guess the identity of the man in black. The actor's eyes were very expressive of his anger!
For me, this project was extremely anticipated, and I didn't feel disappointed in it for a single moment! The happy ending made me even more excited! Of course, you need to be in the right mood to watch this drama, but I still really recommend it!

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Just bear with the editing coz the drama is really good

Before anything else...what in the world is that editing??? I mean it so bad that even a layman could pinpoint it out, yet the makers gave it a green flag. Seriously, this drama's worse thing is its editing, nothing else. It is so good that even after all that you will binge watch all the episodes.
First of all the actors are just gorgeous and it wouldn't have worked if the acting wasn't up to the mark. Every character has a story to tell and sometimes it feels like I am watching a sequel to another drama. If it wasn't for bad editing all the moments would have really great impact especially in scenes where they talked about earlier generation. But look at the beauty of it that even after all the editing mayhem it still conveyed the emotions. The main characters are perfect for the cast they visually look good and have great chemistry. I did find FL little bit on the weaker side in acting but her character is really well written at least for now her acting doesn't bother me much. Plot is full of suspense and witty dialogues and you wouldn't want to miss the smart leads which is rarely bestowed to cdrama viewers. You will keep on guessing who is villain who is not. So in keeping suspense the show is doing great and I am loving the storyline so far. Cinematography and action scenes are really well done and the music is really very beautiful. All I can say is- just give it a try it has a promising premise and good actors plus in later episodes their chemistry is sizzling. Though the actors are quite young so don't expect too much romance from it. It is more about Generational struggles in jinaghu than just the romance.
(Am I the only one who thinks they have gone overboard with their makeup? They all look a little plastered.)
I would suggest to watch this show when you are in drama slump, only then you could have to patience to bear with certain elements of the drama. Though I highly recommend the novel.
PS: Can't believe it was written by the same author who wrote Love Like the Galaxy and The Story of Minglan, I mean these are one of my favourite dramas of all time, now I can definitely see similarities in the writing style. This really had so much potential but the execution couldn't do justice to the story.

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Generation to Generation: An Emotional, Imperfect Gem That Rekindles Wuxia’s Golden Age

I have finished the drama and will try to provide a thorough review because I LOVED this drama. It takes patience and strong media comprehension, because it is nothing like the saccharine love stories of present years. They are not going narrate every thought or plan for you, and viewers will need to pay attention, but if you do, you will be hooked!

Final Verdict: MUST WATCH! If you loved Wuxia dramas of the past, especially those from TVB, this will harken back to yesteryears, bringing back memories and a nostalgic kick that I’ve craved from dramaland for a long time. I truly enjoyed the good, the bad, and the ugly here, but mostly good. Great even, imperfections and all. I loved all of the characters, can even empathize with the bad guys, and loved character development for all of the essential main and supporting cast. You will not regret seeing this through to the end.




Plot & Pacing: 7/10 -- I will start with the obvious imperfections. If viewers have patience, the drama is absolutely worth the payoff. The first five episodes move very quickly; it is not for those who only watch for romance, who like clear black and white characters, and definitely not for the impatient. Admittedly, the editing in the first 5 eps feels choppy, transitions are almost nonexistent, and anyone unfamiliar with the Wuxia genre or its rapid character introductions may feel overwhelmed. The Generation to Generation team had to condense a long novel into 37 episodes, and it is rumored that the original cut was closer to 40. Those extra episodes would have helped ease viewers into the world, build out the character introductions, and guide the audience through the backstory. Unfortunately, we work with what we have, and nothing is ever perfect.

If viewers can make it through those early episodes, the plot and pacing improve dramatically. From that point on, the story becomes engaging and emotionally rewarding. What stood out to me most was how the drama centers on the younger generation as they try to unravel and correct the mistakes of those who came before them. The older generation leaves behind calamities, chaos, bloodshed, heartbreak, and also nostalgia, love, regret, and a deep wish for the next generation to avoid repeating their fate.

At its heart, GTG is about breaking free from family trauma and learning to live authentically without compromising your conscience. Live with the intensity of fire, but move through the world with the curiosity and freedom of the wind. This idea is perfectly embodied by Cai Pingshu, the main protagonist’s aunt, who is admired across both the Six Sects and the Demonic Sect. Cai Zhao, our female lead, has also continued to preserve her aunt’s legacy and build her own path in the world, which is to be a business owner and live peacefully in Luoying Valley with her loved ones, Mu Qingyan included.

Overall, the plot is very strong. It does deviate from the novel, but it brings its own charm and perspective. As a Wuxia drama, it feels reminiscent of the classic TVB golden era with familiar themes, memorable characters, and clear hero and villain archetypes. The show balances the main love story, the Jianghu conflicts, the side characters, and the flashbacks in a satisfying way. Its weakest point is the main villain, whose arc drags on longer than necessary, and I wish Uncle Li had received more backstory. Even so, the flaws do not outweigh the many strengths.




Characters/Chemistry: 9/10 -- Zhou Yiran’s performance as Mu Qingyan is the standout of the entire drama. He carries the role with incredible nuance, and his portrayal of a young man shaped by trauma, loss, and moral ambiguity is unforgettable. Bao Shang’en also deserves a great deal of praise. As Cai Zhao, she holds her own in a major role and actually has more screentime than Zhou Yiran. She brings a grounded, sincere energy to the character that makes her easy to root for.

Mu Qingyan is neither good nor evil. He is a broken young man who grew up with a painful childhood and then lost the only person who ever made him feel safe, his father. After that, he suffered under the Demonic Sect, which rightfully belonged to his Mu clan. His father was his one source of light, and after his death, that role shifted to Uncle Chang. When Uncle Chang died, Cai Zhao became the only constant brightness in his life. She is direct, honest, free-spirited, and has no hidden motives. She becomes his guiding North Star.

I love that neither character fully trusts the other at first. They are destined to be enemies in this world, and Mu Qingyan often treats Cai Zhao like a chess piece in his larger plan. Yet she is sharp enough to see through him. Their romance is a slow burn that can feel uneven at times, but both characters remain fully themselves. They learn to understand each other’s perspectives and refuse to give up on one another.

Cai Zhao needs Mu Qingyan to push her beyond her safe, predictable life. Loving him forces her to feel deeply and take risks she would never take otherwise. Without him, she could easily end up with Song Yuzhi and live a peaceful, comfortable life, but she knows she would be bored and unfulfilled. There would be no real passion there.

Mu Qingyan, on the other hand, learns to let go of his abandonment issues and becomes more open about his intentions. He is willing to give up revenge, his past identity, and even his life for the girl he loves. He chooses her over everything he once believed defined him. If any couple deserves a happy ending, it is these two.

Their adventures together were a joy to watch. The romance and chemistry are clear without ever becoming overly sweet. By the end, they truly feel like equal partners. Their ending felt earned, and I am going to miss these two bickering, stubborn, lovesick fools.

The side characters were incredible. I cried countless times because of them, and twice because of the leads. The nostalgic tone of the show was beautifully executed, and several scenes will stay with me for a long time.

Four unforgettable moments stand out:
1. Luo Yuanrong and Wu Yuanying’s final moment as they jump off the bridge together, leaving behind their tragic past.
2. Qian Xueshen remembering his family in the snowy village and realizing why he must continue living.
3. Madam Yin’s heartbreaking grief over losing her young love.
4. Guo Zigui’s final memory of enjoying Gentle Breeze and laughing by the fire.
I cried the hardest during the first and last scenes, but the other two also hit me deeply. When this drama decides to deliver emotional punches, it does so with full force.

As for the leads, the “death bed” scene in the final episode completely fooled me. If the show had committed to that ending, I would have been emotionally wrecked for a long time.




Acting: Zhou Yiran continues to be an absolute gem. He can express entire emotions with the smallest shift of his lips or a glint in his eyes. He poured everything into this role and captured the depth, cunning, and loneliness of a misunderstood character who almost enjoys being misread by the world. The only person he allows to see the truth is Zhao Zhao. Watching his pain, longing, humor, scheming, quiet joys, and especially his jealousy was incredibly fun. He brought Mu Qingyan to life in a way that feels definitive, and I cannot imagine anyone else reaching the same level of complexity and impact.

There has been criticism of Bao Shang’en for being stiff or lacking the same nuance as Zhou Yiran. It is true that she is less experienced and he is the stronger actor. However, Cai Zhao is not an easy role. She can easily become one-dimensional because she has many traits associated with a Mary Sue. What saves her from that is her internal struggle. She is drawn to someone like Mu Qingyan but cannot fully accept her feelings, so she lives in a constant state of denial while still caring deeply. Bao Shang’en captured her free-spirited nature beautifully. She gives Cai Zhao the right balance of righteousness, curiosity, and discernment, which allows her to deviate from the rules when her conscience demands it.

She is not rigid like Yuzhi. She tries to live with integrity, even when that means going against what the Six Sects believe is right. Bao Shang’en walks a fine line between portraying a tomboyish girl, a rising hero, a model disciple living under the shadow of her legendary aunt, and a young woman discovering what real love feels like. Cai Zhao grew up adored by everyone, cherished and protected, which is the complete opposite of Mu Qingyan’s upbringing. For these two worlds to collide, both actors needed to create a believable push and pull, a yin and yang that balances duty, love, and revenge. It is not an easy dynamic to portray, and although Bao Shang’en still has room to grow, I cannot picture anyone else playing Cai Zhao either.

I love both of these actors and want nothing more than to see their careers continue to rise. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I would be thrilled to see them reunite in another drama.

Both the young and older cast did a fantastic job. Everyone acted their roles perfectly, and I honestly craved more scenes and expanded background stories for everyone. 37 eps was not enough to fully showcase everyone’s backstories, but a commendable job to the casting team.




OST & Cinematography: 8/10 – You can tell the production team put real effort into the cinematography. They filmed in many live locations, and those settings captured the vastness of the world the characters inhabit. Several scenes were genuinely breathtaking and created a strong sense of wonder. However, the visual quality is inconsistent. It is easy to see which scenes were shot on location and which were filmed on sets. Since this was not an S‑tier production, the show did not reach its full visual potential. Even so, the beauty that was achieved still outweighed the weaker moments, and it never took away from the story or the characters. My only complaint is the makeup in certain scenes, where the characters looked overly pale and the makeup was very noticeable.

The OST, on the other hand, was absolutely beautiful. The music elevated every scene, especially the emotional ones. Without such a strong score, many moments would have felt less impactful, which shows how essential the right soundtrack is. The songs were used thoughtfully, supported by lovely instrumentals, and were incredibly effective. My tears usually started the moment the music began, which says everything about how powerful it was.

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History rhymes but does not have to repeat itself.

Generation to Generation (or A Decade of Lanterns on Stormy Jiānghú Nights/江湖夜雨十年灯) is a classic mystery wuxia. The jiāng hú intrigue plot itself is not particularly unique or special—it explores tried-and-true themes around the hypocrisy of righteous sects, multi-generational conflicts, and the true meaning of chivalry. Where it shines is in its character stories. The main characters are refreshingly complex and manage to remain realistic while rejecting tired stereotypes. Cai Zhao and Chang Ning are like a breath of fresh air across tired jiāng hú archetypes—a grounded couple that dares to stand up to societal norms and redefine jiāng hú with their own brand of morality and chivalry.

Cai Zhao is a free spirit who just wants to live well and be happy. Her lack of ambition is a deliberate, determined life philosophy. For she adored her paternal aunt, her Gūgū (姑姑), the heroine Cai Pingshu, who killed Nie Chengheng, thus saving jiāng hú from the demon sect. Heartbroken, Cai Zhao fails to see the point of such sacrifice and vows to mind her own business and live a full and decidedly unheroic life instead. But as the young lady of Luoying Valley, she must train at the prestigious Qingque sect under sect master Qi Yunke. On their way to Qingque, her family stumbles upon a massacre in progress at Chang Fort. They arrive just in the nick of time to save the grievously injured Chang Ning, the young master of Chang Fort.

At Qingque, the orphaned Chang Ning is received with suspicion and finds himself bullied and ostracized. His plight outrages Cai Zhao's innate sense of justice and wins her empathy, even though she senses he lies and may have hidden motives. Chang Ning is one of the most morally ambivalent protagonists I have come across. While his cause is just, he is so ruthless and duplicitous—shamelessly manipulating Cai Zhao to further his ends—that he almost deserves to be called an antagonist. They are well matched in both wits and cunning, because Cai Zhao is onto him but intrigued and drawn to him nonetheless. She senses he was deeply traumatized and may have a legitimate grudge, so she goes along with his schemes, testing and evaluating him along the way.

Both characters are complex and well written, and their classic push-and-pull, love-hate relationship evolves in a riveting and believable way—from mistrust, misunderstandings, and heart-wrenching betrayals to trust, to a deep and abiding bond underpinned by shared values. Through their many adventures and ups and downs, they change each other for the better and manage to overcome the deep burden of generational feuds and inherited grudges. Along the way, they uncover the false propaganda behind jiāng hú's legendary heroes and the hypocrisy of the righteous sects.

A core message of this drama is that history rhymes but does not have to repeat itself. The next generation has free will and can choose to resolve inherited grudges and rivalries differently rather than repeat the mistakes of their forefathers. As Cai Zhao and Chang Ning dig into Cai Pingshu's life story and her entanglements with Chang Ning's family, they discover that the past is a mystery that unlocks the future as a gift. While the storytelling approach—revealing the past concurrently with the present and contrasting how each generation resolves dilemmas—is good, the execution is not. The editing is choppy and doesn't manage the transitions between timelines well.

Nonetheless, I empathized with Cai Pingshu, a tragic heroine (女侠) in every sense of the word, and her ill-fated entanglements with the Li sect and the righteous sects. Even though we know their fates from the start, I was as riveted by the cautionary stories of the previous generation—Cai Pingshu, the Mu brothers, Lei Xiuming, Qiu Renjie, Yin Sulian, and Qi Yunke.

Audiences familiar with classic wuxias will have no trouble following the jiāng hú plot themes, but to newbies, the sheer number of characters and sects can seem overwhelming. This is made worse by the narrative alternating between the present generation and their predecessors. While all the secrets are ultimately revealed, the biggest letdown in the plot is the predictable villain, whose motive is quite shallow relative to the untold grief they caused.

For all its narrative rough edges, compelling acting by the lead cast elevates the character portrayals and made me root for them, flaws and all. Zhou Yiran in particular delivers a fascinatingly layered and irresistibly empathetic portrayal of a very dark protagonist. Bao Shang'en's Cai Zhao is the light that both exposes and redeems the darkest, most cruel aspects of his character. But it is Wen Pang's Cai Pingshu, Cai Zhao's beloved gūgū, who steals the show as the true hero of this story. Qiu Renjie's story made me look at the hoity-toity Lady Yin of Qingque Sect in a different way. I was also moved by Song Yuzhi who manages to stays true to himself through all his difficulties and disappointments.

Despite the messy storytelling, Cai Zhao and Chang Ning shine brightly with their own brand of chivalry. They won me over with conflicts that feel real and personal growth that is hard-won. This drama will reward fans of the genre who are willing to invest in getting to know its many characters. I am happy to rate it 8.0/10.0.

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Generation to Generation — A Love Story Raised by Ruin ⚔️

✨ “Some stories are not born beneath kind skies; they are dragged into the world through blood, grief, and names already sharpened into weapons.”

There are people who say this drama asks for too much patience, too much endurance, too much waiting through distance and silence and pain — but how else was a story like this supposed to be told? 🖤
This was never a love story meant to bloom beneath sunlight. It was born in the wreckage of old hatred, in a world where blood feud had already outlived the people who began it, where revenge was no longer a choice but an inheritance, where children were handed grief before they were ever handed peace. 🕯️
So no, the push and pull did not feel excessive to me. It felt inevitable. Because Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan were not merely trying to love each other — they were trying to reach each other through generations of ashes. ⚔️🩸
And that is what made this drama so beautiful to me. Not because it was soft, but because it dared to remain tender in a world that had every reason to become cruel.


🖤 The Story Misleads You First — And That Is Precisely Its Strength

✨ “It lets you stand at the edge of the truth with empty hands, mistaking the wound for the whole heart.”

What I admired most is that this drama does not reveal itself all at once.
It does not open like a confession. It opens like a veil. It lets you misunderstand. It lets you believe in false shapes. It lets you think you know these people before quietly unraveling everything you thought you understood. And that is why the emotional weight lands. 🌙
Because Cai Zhao is introduced in a way that makes it easy to mistake gentleness for naivety, softness for unawareness, compassion for blindness. But as the story unfolds, that illusion breaks.
She was never blind. She was never weak. She was never simply a girl being moved by the current of other people’s choices. She knew more than people thought she did. She saw far more than the world assumed. And she still chose with her own heart. 🤍
That is what makes her so powerful. Not that she loved without knowing, but that she loved while knowing. And there is something far more devastating, far more beautiful, about a woman who sees every fracture in a person and still chooses not out of ignorance, but out of will.


🕊️ Cai Zhao — Mercy That Refuses to Die

✨ “She was not soft in the way that breaks easily; she was soft in the way moonlight is soft — quiet, steady, and impossible to kill with bare hands.”

Cai Zhao is one of those female leads who becomes more beautiful the more deeply you understand her. Not because she changes into someone stronger, but because you slowly realize strength was in her from the very beginning. 🌿
It lived in her restraint. In her loyalty. In the way she stood beside the people she loved without letting pain poison the center of who she was. And that is what makes the moment with the ashes so unforgettable. 🕯️
Even after betrayal. Even after harm. Even after everything done to her sect, her family, her people — she still carries her master’s ashes from the Forbidden Forest and lays them beside her aunt’s, as if even after all that destruction, she still wished peace upon the dead. That is not weakness. That is a kind of humanity so deep that even grief cannot bury it. 🌟
Because this drama understands something painful and true: that betrayal does not always kill love, that being wounded does not always erase mourning, that sometimes the people who break us still remain in the chambers of our sorrow. 🤍
Cai Zhao does not forgive cheaply. She does not forget. She does not erase what was done. But she refuses to let cruelty be the final thing left alive in her.
And I think that is one of the most powerful things this drama ever says.


⚔️ Mu Qingyan — A Man Who Learned Love Through Suffering

✨ “When a life has been starved of warmth, even one hand reaching through the dark begins to feel like salvation.”

Mu Qingyan is the kind of character whose intensity only fully makes sense once you sit with the horror of what his life has been. 🩶
And when you do, it hurts. Because this is not simply a man who loves too much. This is a man who was broken before life had even begun to open for him.
A child mutilated. A child caged in darkness. A child forced to exist like something less than human, as though suffering had claimed him before the world ever did. And even when he grows older, there is still no real peace.
Healing arrives through pain. Survival arrives through violence. Love arrives only after loss. Even breath feels temporary in a life like his.

So how could someone like Cai Zhao not become everything to him? 🌙
She sees through the mask and does not immediately turn away. She knows enough to hesitate, enough to keep her distance, enough not to trust blindly — and that matters. Because her love is not foolishness.
But even after the truth of who he is rises like a blade between them, she still chooses to see his actions, his humanity, the person beneath the identity the world would condemn.
To someone who has lived as if every wall had ears, every step had danger, every day was another battle to remain alive — that kind of recognition would not feel ordinary. It would feel sacred. 🔥🕯️
That does not justify every part of his possessiveness, his obsession, or the intensity of his attachment. But it makes it achingly understandable.
Because some people do not know how to love in gentle measures. Some people love like the starved, like the wounded, like those who have lived too long in darkness and mistake the first light for something they must hold onto or die. And Mu Qingyan loves like someone who has never truly been allowed to rest.


🌑 No One Is Entirely Innocent, No One Is Entirely Monstrous

✨ “In stories shaped by inherited hatred, the line between sinner and victim is often drawn in blood that belonged to generations long dead.”

What stayed with me most is that this drama refuses the comfort of simple morality. 🖤
It does not hand you easy heroes. It does not hand you villains untouched by grief.
It does not let anyone remain only one thing.
Instead, it gives you people carrying centuries inside them — centuries of blood feud, resentment, indoctrination, loss, and pain so old it has become tradition.
And because of that, the story grows larger than revenge. By the end, it is no longer asking who was right and who was wrong.

It is asking something far more difficult: who will be the first to stop bleeding history into the future? 🩸🌑
That is what makes the coexistence so meaningful. Not because it is easy. Not because the wounds disappear. Not because everyone is absolved. But because after so much suffering, the greatest act of courage is no longer destruction. It is refusal.
Refusal to keep feeding hatred simply because hatred was what you inherited. Refusal to keep mistaking revenge for justice. Refusal to keep handing violence down like it is the only legacy worth leaving behind. And that is a devastatingly beautiful message.


💫 Their Love — Not Gentle, Not Easy, But Real Enough to Survive the Ruins

✨ “They did not meet in a world made for tenderness; they met in a world that kept asking them to become each other’s enemy, and still they reached out.”

What moved me most about Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan is that their love never feels shallow. 🤍
It is not built only on attraction. It is built on seeing. On recognition. On the quiet, painful understanding of two people who keep finding each other even when the world keeps placing a blade between them.
There is always something beneath them — a thread. A pulse. A wound.
A tenderness that survives even when trust is bruised and names become dangerous. And that is why the push and pull never felt meaningless to me.
Every hesitation had history behind it. Every distance had fear behind it. Every return had ache behind it.
They were not being kept apart just to prolong longing. They were trying to choose each other in a world that had already chosen hatred for them. ⛓️
And maybe that is why their love lingers. Because it does not feel like a romance born in safety. It feels like a fragile light protected between two shaking hands while the whole world keeps trying to blow it out.


⭐ Final Rating — Why It Earns a 9/10

✨ “Not all beautiful stories are flawless; some are remembered because they leave sorrow glowing at the edges long after they end.”

Generation to Generation is not perfect.
Its pacing may feel heavy to some. Its emotional back-and-forth may test the patience of viewers who want something smoother, simpler, more immediate. But to dismiss it as merely frustrating is to miss the soul of it entirely. 🌙
This drama gives us layered storytelling,
misdirection that deepens rather than cheapens, performances full of ache and restraint, a female lead whose compassion feels like quiet strength, a male lead whose love is shaped by unspeakable suffering, and a world where morality is blurred by grief, history, and survival. ⚔️
Most importantly, it gives us a story that does not worship revenge, but coexistence. Not cruelty, but humanity. Not the triumph of one side over another, but the painful hope that the cycle can end.
And that is why, for me, it is a solid 9/10. ✨🖤
Because this is not only a drama about love.
It is a drama about inherited wounds, mercy after betrayal, and what it means to remain human in a world that keeps trying to harden you into something merciless. 🕊️

🌌 “Some loves are unforgettable not because they were pure, but because they bloomed in places where nothing tender was ever meant to survive.”

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The best best best drama ever ❤️

I have no words. It was the best drama ever. In my opinion. I had never seen a drama like this. I mean, the first 5 episodes might confuse you, but trust me it will be it's the best one like I never, ever rated a drama before, but this is my first time because it's that good. At the end, not only the main female lead but also the second female is and everybody have a happy ending. The thing that hooked me was the twist and turns . And the cai zhao aunt and mu qingyan's uncle, their chemistry. It was really beautiful drama. And the other point is I really liked the female leads and the male leads chemistry, even if it's in the drama or outside the drama, they're like, really friendly i hope they make more dramas like this.
Thank you

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Generation to Generation is the Thinking Person’s Wuxia

While some might mistake this drama’s intense emotional beats for simple tropes, Generation to Generation is actually a sophisticated study of loyalty, trauma, and the gravity of choice. It refuses to give the audience "easy" romance, opting instead for a story where actions have heavy consequences.

The Power of the "Devoted" Lead
The criticism of the Male Lead being "obsessed" misses the profound psychological layer Zhou Yiran brings to the role. In a world where everyone is a betrayer, his singular, unyielding focus on the Female Lead isn't a "trope"—it’s a survival mechanism. He isn't an "obsessed freak"; he is a man who has lost everything and found his only North Star. Seeing this as "annoying" ignores the raw, high-stakes vulnerability that makes their dynamic so electric.

Realistic Stakes: Family vs. Passion
Many dramas have the FL abandon her entire life for a man after two episodes. Generation to Generation is refreshing because it portrays the actual weight of familial duty. Bao Shangen’s character doesn't just "leave" for no reason; she represents the classic struggle between personal desire and the deep-rooted responsibility to one's kin. Her hesitation isn't a "loop"—it’s a realistic portrayal of a woman with a backbone who refuses to be a hollow character defined only by her boyfriend.

Cinematic Storytelling (Not "Choppy" Editing)
The editing style is clearly a deliberate artistic choice. It mirrors the fragmented nature of the Jianghu (the martial arts world)—it’s fast, it’s disorienting, and it keeps you on your toes. If you approach this like a standard, slow-paced idol drama, you might feel lost, but if you treat it like a cinematic mystery, the "chopped" style becomes a brilliant way to build tension.

Don’t let the "cliché" labels fool you. This is a drama for viewers who appreciate nuance, gorgeous aesthetics, and a romance that actually feels like it costs something. It’s not "garbage"—it’s a gem that requires you to actually pay attention. Must watch!

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A love letter to Love itself

What can I say, I created an account just so I can praise this amazing show in hopes more people watch it. I think that says it all. What caught my eye was the actor Yiran, but the female lead Bao stole my heart, and the two of them together just put this show in my top 10. I love a broken ML and sunshine FL and together their love breaks all boundaries and they overcome hardships together. The young actors did so amazing in their roles, Yiran's eyes are so expressive and the fact he was able to play two roles really tells you a lot about his acting skills. They have such a bright future ahead of them.

Don't even get me started on the script, I loved the intricate storyline, spanning across generations and the way it flowed together without becoming a mess. The supporting characters were all great too, they all had their time to shine. I LOVED the battle scenes, the choreography of the fights were interesting and my eyes were glued to the screen. I will be rewatching this from time to time, that's for sure. IF you're reading this wondering if you should watch it, I highly recommend you don't hesitate.

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So fun, visually stunning, emotionally deep and living up to its potential!

I always make my decision on whether a drama is good or not based off of my willingness to watch all the scenes and story in which the main leads are not in. If I just skip through, then the drama hasn't been done well enough to keep me interested in the other characters and story plot points. But I'm loving every part of this drama! It has been so much fun.

I've seen a lot of reviews criticizing the editing and storytelling and saying it is done poorly. But there are different variations and methods to directing and I think we should be careful before saying 'it is done bad', when really it isn't done the way you normally like it. Bad editing has to do with clipping shots, incomplete motions, going from one angle to another and not having the depth and angles line up so that it jars on the eyes. I haven't seen these things. The issue I think they really have is the story boarding, and this is referring to how the story gets told.

This drama is storyboarded more like a shounen than a romance drama. I think many people thought that it was going to be more of a romance drama than a heroes adventures drama. I really enjoy the heroes adventure type dramas which focus on painting a bigger picture than just the story between the main leads. The story is going to be moving from many different characters perspectives and often, and certainly in this case doing back storytelling. It can feel like jumping from one scene into another. I get that some people don't feel this flows well. I have noticed we don't get as many long scenes like in romance focused dramas do and I confess I would have liked many scenes to be a little longer. But I think they did a fantastic job overall. I was super interested in the older generation's stories just as much as our main leads story. They wove all of these generations together into one big story that was truly exciting to watch.

So our main leads are viewers themselves of the stories of the older generation, and we are getting told piece by piece as their present story unfolds. I swear, never has a title 'generation to generation' been so on point with telling us exactly what this drama revolves around. If you don't force the story into a box, you will absolutely enjoy it. The way the story has been given has constantly left me on the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next without drawing things out too long. With long dramas it is normal to feel bored or just be trying to get through the episodes but I'm not feeling that way with this drama. I'm just wanting more!

For the directing, storyboarding and editing, truly it's rated at something like a 7-8. It isn't bad. But it's also not doing anything exceptional or new.

I think the main leads in this drama have so much chemistry that feels natural. This just makes watching them together a wonderful and fun experience. I love the characteristics of the main leads. They also feel refreshing and new. So many dramas really give the main leads the same temperaments and it can feel boring or trivial.

The sets are actually really nice. They feel new and expansive. The colour and toning is gorgeous, giving this drama a dark moody vibe yet also a with a bright magical vibe. The world feels fantastical and vibrant. So many gorgeous epic shots of this magical landscape. The costumes have a new feeling as well with the styling. And the fabrics and colours are wonderful. They play a wonderful part in setting the vibe and creating that 'this is new world' I've never seen feeling.

And excuse me! But Zhou Yiran were have you been all my life!!!!!! So happy for him that he is starting to get more lead roles and I believe and hope that this drama will and is setting his career on an upward trajectory. He is super talented! And literally looks like an anime character come to life! I went and did research, that is his voice! It isn't a voice actor, which a lot of dramas use. Oh! I'm a big fan of his now and just loving seeing him do his thing. Great acting, truly.

Bao sheng En is lovely as well. I really enjoyed her acting and bringing a new quality to the main female lead. She is not that overdone clumsy or bubbly girl, nor is she the overdone go getter, strong, I can do it on my own girl. She is very beautiful and is truly giving us a great character to fall in love with. She feels insightful and careful while being laid back. She is strong, and it naturally comes through but hasn't made that the main focus of her character.

Also, the main leads are, one from the demon sect and one from the righteous sect. The story also has a unfolding of uncovering the righteous sects' secrets and in turn seeing the demon sect in a different light. There is a theme through making the characters and viewers look at what is good and what is evil - it isn't about what sect you are in but the individuals intentions and actions. Can our MLs face dispelling prejudice from both sides and find a harmonious solution?

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this drama. It is my favorite so far this year. Episode 22 is the best!!!! I loved this drama. The ending was perfect. What a phenomenal job the actors and crew did! Thank you so much!

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The BEST forbidden love wuxia

I'm not kidding when I say Generation to Generation has the best chemistry I have ever seen for a Cdrama. The yearning eyes, the small actions that convey such longing and desire for the other is unbelievable to watch.

Mu Qingyan is the obsessive, manipulative ML who always has a Plan A-Z, constantly getting called out for his schemes by the adorable, bubbly Cai Zhao every single time. Worse part, that's how they flirt. In a world that has taken everything from him, Mu Qingyan's sole purpose is Cai Zhao. He will always choose her and will not ever waver. The angst is heart wrenching but necessary as they fight against the "momentum of the world" to be together.

In short, the drama is cinematic. There are layers to the plot as it builds on the trauma passed from generation to generation but it is easy to follow because it is all interconnected. Lore is not just thrown at you and the plot twists make each episode unskippable.

The Chinese Romeo & Juliet except Romeo will cut down the world before it takes Juliet from him. The absolute BEST wuxia.

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Zhou Yi Ran and His Dimples Have Stolen My Heart

Another perfectly casted Wuxia, with a mix of all genres but almost always pulled at my heartstrings!

I was absolutely HOOKED on this from the beginning, because the relationship between our leads was so so SO amazing. They had an enemies to lovers relationship, but it was different from all others because one is smitten with the other from the start. Their back and forth bickering, with the obsessiveness, was seriously so hot and had me on my toes. I came into this for ZYR and was not disappointed-- his dark demeanor just made his occasional dimpled smile THAT MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE🥵.

-The story was a bit confusing in the start because they go back and forth with things that happened in the past. A lot of what the previous generation went through influences what happens in the present day, and there's a parallel in some conflicts. But you do eventually get an answer. Also, I find a lot of Wuxia have the initial villain as the demon sect and then the bigger villain as someone from the "good" sect. Not sure if I have a preference, but I didn't mind it in this.
-The acting was great and the casting was done so well. Our leads are beautiful, OF COURSE, and the side characters are very diverse and support the plot in their own ways. Even the villains were perfectly hated on, and the plot twist at the end also has characters showcase different emotions that really got me emotional.
-The OST, the main one, is quite emotional. The last episode ends with the whole cast singing it, and it was such an amazing conclusion to a series. I still don't know how to get over it😭
-The romance❤️‍🔥 in this was not a huge part of the drama. It was there, and they clearly have feelings for each other very early on, but because of certain circumstances, it keeps getting pushed back. As someone who watches dramas to feel the heart-fluttery feels of a relationship between two attractive characters, that was a TINY BIT disappointing.

Overall, this drama was on my watchlist ever since they started filming, so I waited a LONG time. But I am quite pleased. This isn't a typical drama I'm into, but I liked it. Don't think the rewatch value is high, but some scenes were very cute and maybe I'll rewatch them🤭

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