Generation to Generation

The Demon Sect Was the Real Star

For me, Zhou Yiran completely stole the show as Mu Qing Yan. He was cunning, manipulative, and always scheming, yet you could still feel that he was good at his core. His character was easily the most compelling part of the drama.
I liked the female lead at first, but I was disappointed that she never truly separated herself from the sect or from her aunt’s shadow. Her aunt lived boldly and freely without regret, while Cai Zhao always seemed tied to that legacy instead of forging her own path.
You Guan Yue and Shangguan Hao Nan brought great comedic moments that added some much-needed fun to the story.
Honestly, the demon sect characters were far more entertaining than the supposedly righteous sect. At times the righteous side felt pretentious, and I couldn’t help thinking the drama might have been even better if it focused more on the demon sect.

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A MATCH OF MINDS

The narrative centers on Cai Zhao, a free-spirited disciple of the Qingque Sect, and Mu Qingyan, a strategic and emotionally complex young master determined to uncover the truth behind his family's massacre. As they traverse Jianghu, they confront longstanding conflicts between righteous and demonic factions, ultimately revealing the ambiguity inherent in the distinction between hero and villain.

The gradual development of the romance between Zhou Yi-ran and Bao Shangen constitutes the series's most compelling element. Their intellectual compatibility avoids reliance on clichéd misunderstandings. Mu Qingyan emerges as a notable, morally ambiguous protagonist whose manipulative and paranoid tendencies stem from childhood trauma. Conversely, Cai Zhao demonstrates perceptiveness, often discerning Mu Qingyan's intentions, which results in a dynamic characterized by psychological tension. Notably, Mu Qingyan's devotion frequently manifests in intense or obsessive behaviors, exemplified by his insistence that the 'lady of his heart' be accepted by his sect, irrespective of her background. The first consensual kiss in episode 29 is widely regarded as a pivotal moment, offering a rare glimpse of vulnerability in Mu Qingyan.

Yuzhi is depicted as the archetypal righteous hero: upright, protective, and respectful. In the initial episodes, he rescues the protagonists from an ambush and consistently serves as a loyal ally to Cai Zhao. His frequent presence near Cai Zhao often provokes irritation in Mu Qingyan. Distinct from conventional jealous rivals, Yuzhi is commended for his maturity; he does not become antagonistic due to unrequited affection but maintains his respect for Cai Zhao. While Mu Qingyan embodies the unpredictability and peril associated with the Demonic Sect, Yuzhi symbolizes the stability and tradition of the Righteous Sect. His support during Cai Zhao's period of solitude and confinement underscores his enduring loyalty. Consistent with the author's style, the dialogue is characterized by wit, and the characters display notable intelligence. The narrative avoids contrived plot devices, and the ensemble cast, including Li Yunrui, contributes depth to the multi-generational themes, enhancing the historical authenticity of the setting.

However, numerous viewers have observed abrupt scene transitions and disjointed editing, likely resulting from extensive censorship or aggressive post-production. The pacing in the initial episodes and the concluding arc is occasionally inconsistent, with certain side plots, including significant revelations, appearing protracted. Although the series excels in atmosphere, the depiction of physical combat is at times diminished by the emphasis on plot and dialogue.

In summary, viewers who prioritize character development, compelling chemistry, and intricate plotting will likely find the series highly rewarding. Conversely, those seeking continuous action or a fast-paced narrative may find the deliberate pacing and editing choices challenging.

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Interesting and Intricate storylines from Generation to Generation but not perfectly executed

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

I’m interested in checking out “Generation to Generation” because there aren’t that many wuxia dramas out there that only focus on the martial arts world without the cultivation to immortality. And there are many more political, historical and xianxia dramas out there. Besides, I haven’t seen Zhou Yi Ran in a while and especially in a period drama. “Generation to Generation” has quite an intricate plot that has storylines that span two generations. It’s an ambitious novel adaptation that didn’t quite execute perfectly.


Likes:
Mu Qing Yan (ML) - You can say he’s a red flag or a gray character. He’s not a full-on red flag as in Xie Wei in “The Story of Kunning Palace” where he would manhandle FL. Instead, he’s intelligent and calculating, obsessed and lonely. What I love about him is that he is still pretty much the same Mu Qing Yan from beginning to the end (with the exception of the very last episode). You know he has some dirty tricks and schemes in his sleeves, and you know there must be an underlying reason for his actions, no matter how innocent it seems. Mu Qing Yan is a very interesting antihero.

Zhou Yi Ran (actor) - He is the star of the show. If you are his fan, you have got to check out this drama for him. He’s no longer the teenager I remember in “When I Fly Towards You” or “The Bond”. His acting has matured, especially the subtle emotional acting, a little side eye or smirk here and there. From acting to body posture, he exudes charisma and you cannot take your eyes off him.

Cai Zhao - Cai Zhao is the perfect match for Mu Qing Yan. She is not only intelligent and can see through Mu Qin Yan’s motives and schemes. She’s also street smart and knows how to use her quick wits to either avoid conflict or skirt past them. Additionally, she’s strong physically. Cai Zhao is no damsel in distress. Instead, she often scoops in to save the day or fight as an equal partner and warrior alongside Mu Qing Yan.

General Plot - I was entertained throughout the 37 episodes and was paying attention to the intricate events and characters. I really like the plot of both generations, and enjoy seeing how the characters and the action of the older generation affect the storylines of the younger generations. I can only imagine how much better the novel is compared to the drama.


Mixed feelings and Average:

Execution of the Plot - As much as I like the general plot, the execution could use some more work. Many characters are introduced within the first episodes, and these names keep on coming back throughout the drama. At times, the drama does show flashbacks to remind you of who these minor characters are. But sometimes when they don’t, a name would be thrown out here and there, and I would have to think really hard and recall who they are. Additionally, there’s not enough time to really show what happened before and now. The story of heroine Cai Ping Shu (FL’s aunt) really took up a lot of the screentime. Everything happened because of her. I wish a whole season was dedicated to the older generation’s love triangles and one-sided loves, hatred, betrayals, and schemes. It sounded more fun than what the younger generation is going through. If we can get 2 seasons, one per generation, that would be awesome.

Acting - Aside from Zhou Yi Ran, the rest of the cast did a fine job. I don’t think anyone really stands out, and this includes the veterans. Bao Shang En did a decent good job as the female lead, but there’s still room for improvement during emotional scenes. I feel that none of the actors has done a better job than Zhou Yi Ran in those subtle facial expressions. Having said that, no one also sticks out like a sore thumb. They are just fine.

Romance/Chemistry - I mentioned earlier, I love that Mu Qin Yan is obsessively in love yet never really hurts Cai Zhao in any way. He never physically chokes her (LOL) nor puts her in any dangerous situation. Their relationship is interesting. You can say Mu Qin Yan deceives Cai Zhao many times. You can say Cai Zhao abandons and never puts Mu Qin Yan above her family, friends and principles. But as you get to know the characters, you find their actions totally make sense. Cai Zhao is smart and she will see through Mu Qin Yan’s manipulation and schemes, and the funny thing is, Mu Qin Yan knows that, too. It doesn’t matter, she will choose to be ‘manipulated’ time and time again. However, I do find the chemistry between the two leads to be just OK. It’s not sizzling and it’s not fluffy. It’s…..OK. For that, I am slightly disappointed.


Disappointments:

Fight/Action scenes - Unfortunately for a wuxia drama, the action scenes are very average or slightly below average. There are not enough to begin with. The ones we do have are filled with slow motion moves, occasional posing and just not good hardcore sword fighting.

Production Value - It’s pretty clear that this is not a big budget production. You barely have 20 people when you start a rebellion or hostile takeover or going to battle. The CGI isn’t well done and I am really disappointed in the costumes. Some of them look like random cloth draped on the actors. There’s also ugly uniforms that look like aprons made out of blankets!

Main Villain - You can tell immediately who the main villain is. No question at all! The reason for them turning evil was so hilarious and delusional. They were mysterious for a while but once the reasons for everyone’s actions were revealed, I was laughing out loud at its ridiculousness. This is probably what caused many viewers to be super disappointed in the last few episodes.

Episode 37 (Ending) - I was expecting a different direction of the ending that could be much more memorable and realistic. But I also am not surprised that the drama went with a more popular direction. But the reason for ML’s sudden health change was quite ridiculous. However, I am most disappointed in the execution of the ending. It was so cheesy!!! The drama was quite serious from start to almost finish. Yet the last episode totally changes the vibe of the drama. I really do not need a song and dance.


Would I recommend this drama? I would, especially if you are a veteran wuxia drama watcher who is familiar and comfortable with the introduction of many characters. The plot is intricate yet not really very confusing but will require your full attention. However, it does take patience to sit through the whole drama to let the stories slowly unfold. If you are a fan of Zhou Yi Ran, definitely check it out. I debated rating this an 8 or 8.5, and I settled with 8.25 rounding up to 8.5 because I was having a hard time recently finding a drama to hold my attention from start to finish. “Generation to ‘Generation” was able to keep me interested during this time when I have a very short attention span.




Completed: 3/18/2026 Review #673

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Great show, definitely worth watching!

Haven’t done many reviews on MDL, so be warned, there are spoilers!!!


This was such a wonderful show! it currently ranks top 2 for me so far this year. I loved the acting from both leads, they were phenomenal. The angst is the story felt real and justified. The dilemma between Cai Zhao picking her family over Mu Chingyan was so well done, and the fact she may still pick MCY in a life or death situation was very apparent. Even if it seemed like Cai Zhao was never chasing Mu Chingyan, I like the fact they made her say it herself. She admits that she could not do as much for MCY as he has done for her. But at the end of the day, both their love runs deep.

Maybe I’m just stupid, but I didn’t quite catch why Mu Chingyan persisted to practice the Ziwei method? I mean, I just think that he gave up because of Cai Zhao, but I guess he was so persistent because he wanted the Li Sect to unify with the others without facing prejudice?


oh my days, the last episode was a rollercoaster. I fully believed TWICE that Mu Chingyan was dead for. I was throwing my laptop and everything, but I’m glad it ended the way it did. Even though something felt missing by the end. Maybe it’s just the way c-dramas are, but all the blood spitting and being throw around, all of that just for them to recover fully felt a teeny bit unrealistic. For a good minute I thought the happy ending was just a dream, or the afterlife after MCY died and maybe Cai Zhao ended her life too...
but I prefer happy endings so let’s not go there!

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Good Story, Horrible Execution

The Filmatography
Poor editing, scenes jump abruptly and transitions are nonexistent. As if the drama was assembled without any regard for pacing or coherence. Instead of drawing viewers in, the choppy editing constantly reminds you that you’re watching something unfinished and poorly thought out.

The Leads
ML and FL's acting is subpar lacking the emotional depth this story so desperately needs.
FL's character is so boring and plain. No character development, nothing going for her and yet almost everybody in the drama likes her for some reason.
ML's character feels like a child trying to be an adult. He does these slow motion clips and "cool poses" and it's just so cringe and doesn't deliver the way they think it does. It just continues to play into the immature image I have of him.
I also fail to see the "chemistry" between them. It feels like instalove to me or pity love.

The Voice Dubbing
Off putting. I was very suprised to find that both leads dubbed themselves. A better job could've been done. Why act so stiff and expressionless on screen and then try to show your skills in the studio booth?

The Plot
Weak and directionless. Why is everyone literally OBSESSED with Cai Pingshu (who died 10 years ago btw??) No matter where the story tries to branch off to, everything circles back to her. It's almost like all the men in the previous generation either liked/were infatuated with her.
The plot goes around in circles and with no emotional buildup, sense of purpose or even proper character development, it's difficult to stay invested.

Final Thoughts
Overall, the story could be good. It genuinely seems interesting but deserves a better cast and better crew to tell it better.

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Mu Qingyan DESERVES a better story, plot--anything really?!

At its core, *Generation to Generation* presents a familiar wuxia framework: sect rivalries, political power struggles, supernatural threats such as zombies, and the blurred morality between so-called righteous clans and the demonized “other.” The Li Sect, branded a demon sect by the Six Righteous Sects, exists outside the moral posturing of the orthodox world. They do not claim benevolence; they simply live by their own code. In contrast, the righteous sects cloak their ambitions in virtue and often skirt the very line between justice and hypocrisy that they claim to uphold.

This ideological tension should serve as the drama’s strongest narrative engine. Instead, it feels only partially realized due to uneven character development and limited narrative grounding.

Mu Qingyan’s goal is straightforward: to reclaim his rightful place as head of the Li Sect. It is a classic wuxia arc featuring an ambitious heir navigating treachery, sect politics, and legacy. However, ambition alone cannot sustain dramatic momentum. The series struggles to articulate what truly drives him beyond strategy and inheritance. What does leadership represent for him: revenge, reform, validation, or survival? The script gestures toward these possibilities but rarely explores them with sustained depth. Without a clearly defined emotional core, the power struggle often feels procedural rather than urgent.

The world-building suggests considerable complexity. The Six Righteous Sects are depicted as morally compromised arbiters, while the Li Sect appears unapologetically pragmatic. Yet these ideas function more as atmospheric framing than as themes rigorously examined within the story. The drama acknowledges hypocrisy but seldom places its characters in situations that force meaningful moral reckoning.

Cia Zhao, the niece of a revered heroine from the Six Sects, serves as the moral counterpoint. She is righteous, gifted, and supported by the admiration of both elders and peers. As such, she embodies the orthodox ideal: principled, luminous, and largely insulated from the harsher realities of sect politics. Her relationship with Mu Qingyan provides some of the drama’s most intriguing tension. He is calculating and ambitious, yet notably gentler in her presence. This contrast suggests compelling possibilities, with affection acting as a humanizing force on ambition. However, the narrative relies more on familiar romantic conventions than on gradual emotional development. His vulnerability is asserted more often than it is convincingly dramatized, leaving the emotional stakes somewhat understated.

Structurally, the opening third of the drama disperses its focus across numerous subplots rather than establishing a strong foundation for character and world. Viewers are guided through a succession of side conflicts that contribute limited momentum to the central narrative. While these threads may be intended to evoke the lingering influence of the previous generation, possibly echoing the title itself, the execution can feel diffuse. Combined with uneven editing, the result is a storytelling rhythm that occasionally feels fragmented rather than expansive. Unfortunately, the closing arc proves just as nonsensical as the opening third, circling back to similarly disjointed narrative choices rather than bringing the story toward a coherent resolution.

Lately, there has been a trend in Chinese drama camera work to frame the subject from the perspective of an adjacent character, a technique seen in series like *The Double* and *Fangs of Fortune*. In those examples, the approach heightens emotional intensity: *The Double* uses it to emphasize sensuality and the stakes of conflict or demise, while *Fangs of Fortune* leverages it to reveal intimacy by showing what each character observes in the other. In *Generation to Generation*, however, this camera approach is undermined by ragged editing. Rather than creating emotional depth, the shots feel disjointed, and the intended psychological or relational impact is largely lost.

A nod to wuxia nostalgia arrives in Mu Qingyan’s entrances. One memorable scene features him floating down and landing on tree branches, levitating midair, recalling the exaggerated, heroic aesthetics of classic wuxia. My personal favorite remains the umbrella entrance, coupled with the line, “I’ve been waiting for you for half a day,” which manages to be playful while evoking the stylistic charm that wuxia fans cherish.

As is often the case in large-scale historical dramas, Mu Qingyan emerges as the most compelling figure, largely due to the inherent complexity of the antihero archetype. Zhou Yiran works with relatively constrained material and limited relational dynamics, yet he brings a degree of restraint and focus to the role. At the same time, his performance reveals an actor still developing range, with certain emotional registers less fully realized.

All the elements of an engaging, action-driven wuxia are present: sect intrigue, moral ambiguity, romantic tension, and supernatural spectacle. However, inconsistent character development, uneven narrative execution, and fragmented technical choices prevent these components from coalescing into a fully satisfying whole. What remains most immediately striking is the production’s visual appeal, including Zhou Yiran’s screen presence, which often carries scenes that might otherwise feel dramatically thin.

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Long awaited drama turns into disaster. Was it worth, the wait?

EP 1-5. This is a long review, so please bear it with me =)
What a waste of young great actors (T ^ T)

I dropped this show after few episode tried to skip and continue, but still couldn’t get into it. No matter what, I couldn’t stop complaining…

The first episode minutes felt great, but then it felt like blank. I should praise Bao Shang En, I saw how much she trained for the wuxia - fighting scenes!

If u don’t wanna read the whole review — The plot, editing and scenes as wells as acting has major problems. Literally — whole dramas.

They're not telling a good story properly,
I’m reading the novel as well — it’s better than the drama.

The exceptions are the cinematography and OST

The background and world-building are unclear, the pacing is chaotic, and the plot keeps jumping, new events appear without any explanation.

the acting is just awful! Maybe it’s not the actors fault, but the scripts…I must say before judging, FL’s lines were excellent, I kept praising her character, but later all the Conversations and dialogues went off, they are always the same…I was dizzy from all this drama. Later it was so unbearable that I just could only forward it. the ML feels under-written. After watching Zhou Yiran's few dramas, TL, Reborn, Wifty and this one, I can say there's something wrong here…His acting is actually good, but here, I can’t say like it is…Is it’s the filming or the scenes that they’re like this? The male lead scenes are just cringy; his dramatic scenes are choppy, and the constant head-cutting makes him seem even worse.

Finally why Iam even here? ^^
The only thing why Iam here, it’s because of the trailer’s chemistry, but rn I just feel cringey.

Maybe it’s too early to judge the drama, but I just can’t otherwise…I keep editing this review while hour, it would be a waste not to post :(

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Visual Perfection but a slow burn ✨✨

Generation to Generation is a wuxia drama that is truly a treat for the eyes, even if the story moves a bit slowly. Even though the plot gets a little boring or repetitive in the middle because there are so many different sects to keep track of, the acting really saves the show.

Zhou Yiran is incredibly handsome and perfect as the "cold" leader, especially during his grand entrances, while Bao Shangen (Baobao) is so cute and smart that you can't help but root for her. The production is top-tier; it was filmed in beautiful places like Sichuan, and the hanfu they wore used such pretty colors that every frame looked like a painting.

One thing that surprised me was the music. Even though I am a huge OST lover and usually have a playlist full of C-drama songs, I didn’t really enjoy the OST for this drama. It just didn't hit the same way other shows do. However, if you have some patience for the pacing, the ending is amazing. The wedding scene is a total highlight—the wedding clothes are breathtaking and make the whole journey feel worth it!

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A deep storyline but poor story delivery and execution makes confusion

1. Story : The storyline is indeed deep, the lore is great, a lot of amazing character, faction, and more, but poorly executed with a bad pacing. A lot of people would be confused right from the start even when following the drama im personally still a bit dizzy about some of the thing
2. Acting/Cast : An Amazing Cast yes, a good actingv overall especially ML, im amaze of how he always expres his feeling and i can feel it too his love for the FL, but on the contrary i cant feel it in the FL, it feels not genuine of her, feel cringed and forced.
3. Music good, especialy the ending in every episode.
4. Rewatch Value is good, very repeatable with some skippable moment, im even interested in the nove.

Conclusion : Bad start, confusing story line and bad world building, after some episode you would understand and start enjoying it until a couple of ending episode, a very underwhelmed ending, i thought as the story directing us to believe the main would clash in the end with their peak feelings and power but damn, Ml always hurting so much, and FL character is unbearable at times.

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Initially interesting characters flounder and flip flop by the middle and never stop

This started out so well that it was a ten for me up until the leads both reached Bliss Palace. First it became questionable whether Zhao is allowed to make any decisions on her own. Then it became questionable whether any of her decisions make any sense. Instead of letting the leads spent some time apart and let them get in some good pining so that they may come together stronger, the male lead forces their paths to cross at every turn in either icky or straight up nonsensical ways.

For a sect drama even if it is not full-fledged wuxia, the fight choreographies are pretty one note and incredibly short until the last episodes. Zhao seemed to be a cool fighter at first, then she just does the same move over and over. The only impressive fight she gets is against one of her uncles.

Whenever the leads make up again they are on the outs once more just as fast. Sadly, Generation to Generation is a downward spiral. The Man in Black is an interesting enough mystery to keep me speeding through the leads' seemingly endlessly repeating woes. By the 26th episode I simply wanted to know if that damn villain is the guy I thought he would be or the lame guy I thought he would be. It was the lame guy.

All the male characters belong in the garbage except Zhao's incredible little brother. The female supporting characters are no more than plot devices except for the master's wife. Barely any character develops. There is just foreshadowing that goes nowhere each time.

Everyone's goals feel all over the place except the male leads, but only because he is allowed to secretly go after his goals during most of the drama. Sadly, that is more handled to justify him interacting with the FL than anything else and is completely disregarded by the end. Their love story turns into a farce of obligation. Where that obligation comes from? Nobody knows.

5/10 for what could have been and the magiepie bridge song, which is a better love story than these two.

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