Shadow Love

Sizzling Hot

Okay, now this… THIS was a well made drama. Congratulations to all that was involved in this production. Truly breathtaking. I’m a sucker for anything supernatural and lovers to enemies to lovers trope. I first saw Cheng Lei in My Journey to You. He was great there, but I only saw one side of his acting which was the cold part. Now here, he plays three characters. Someone made a comment on a video online saying it was unfair that Prince Annan only had a few episodes, and Prince Annan was better than Jin’an. What do you mean? He’s the same person. He just forgot Li Shuang for a bit, but the memories resurfaced, and that’s all it matters. I couldn’t imagine any other actor who would play this character. Cheng Lei nailed his parts. He was so sweet, funny, and caring as Jin’an, super badass as the man in black, and cold and ruthless Prince Annan. The scene where they fought outside the gate. OMG it was heartbreaking to see them fight. My heart was beating crazy, like I wanted to jump in the screen and shake some sense into Prince Annan. I wanted to yell STOP THAT IS YOUR WOMAN!! I’m just glad he treated her well while she was a prisoner under their Yao state. I loved how he slowly fell for her again, thanks to the memories. I loved every character here. The actors did a great job playing their parts. I’m glad the second ML did the right thing in the end when he tried to lure out Prince Annan. That was a risky move, though. He could’ve been ripped to shreds. I loved the ending with them spending some time together taking care of the orphaned kids. ML was just too cute whenever he talks to the FL. The music made me cry every time it came on. Everything was just pure excitement. There was only one slight mistake with the editing. It was when she was being strangled by the man in black up in the air, one scene had one dagger in her right hand, and next scene both of her hands were holding ML’s hands. Anyway, other than that, this drama is a perfect 10 for me. I loved everything about it. Looking forward for more Cheng Lei dramas. I highly recommend this drama.

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The Insidious Crown Prince's Plan, A Thousand Faces Ryan Cheng

I watched the series with great curiosity. I especially liked the production and direction. They shot some beautiful scenes, and the action scenes were also great. The direction was excellent from beginning to end. However, I can't say the same about the script. There were a lot of illogicalities. There were just "I did it, it happened" beginnings and endings. There were a lot of inconsistencies. There were a lot of character manipulations. Ridiculous things were done. If I tried to list them all, it would probably take 10 pages. There were so many. Screenwriters generally don't pay any attention to the characters they bring to life. They make a sadistic general look so smooth. You're left wondering, "What happened to this guy?" The character of Su Mu Yang changed 10 times. He was good. He went bad. Suddenly, he became sadistic. He became a schemer. He was incapable of any physical activity. He became a warrior. He was a prince and a king. He was a humanitarian and a killer. He was a gentleman and a vengeful man. So many changes. Characters don't change that much. They may be angry, hurt, sad, and devastated, but a person who doesn't kill people and loves humanity would never attempt murder. Character is unique. Your temperament can change. Not your character. Let this be my advice to screenwriters.
Let's say you could have killed the leader, but you don't kill him when he's within your grasp. You spend a few more episodes trying to kill him, and then you kill him. These are very obvious. At least don't put him under your control. If you were going to kill him, why didn't you? In other words, mistakes were made to make the episode last longer.
It's unacceptable for a crown prince to bow down and submit to a normal prince. It goes against all traditions. Such things happen in private. However, when there are people among the people or soldiers, it's impossible for a normal prince to act as a fait accompli to a crown prince. To step on him in front of a soldier. According to tradition, a crown prince represents the King. He is the King's representative. How can one soldier submit to another rather than to him? When the soldier orders the prince to be arrested immediately, the crown prince's order is like the king's. It's carried out immediately. In this series, these things are completely eliminated, the crown prince thing is over, unconventional acts are committed, and episodes are shot with the slogan "I want it this way." In a disciplined country like China, where such things are strictly adhered to, this is unacceptable. I have no connection to it; even I find it strange.
The relationship between the Yao Queen and the sorcerer isn't well-crafted either. It's as if it's unclear what's going on. It's ambiguous.
He didn't become the Emperor of Tianjin. Ni Da Hong is perhaps the last person one would consider the Emperor. I don't want to criticize the actor, but in my opinion, the role of emperor didn't suit him at all; he couldn't play it. I didn't like it. You might say that emperors weren't handsome or well-mannered. On the contrary, they were ugly. That's not the point. An emperor intimidates his subjects with his posture, dignity, and actions. When his subjects see him, they're afraid, fearful, or they love and adore him. She needs to exude such charm, such dignity, such presence. Kings may be ugly, but their posture and actions make it clear they are kings. They impress the people.
Tan Kai was the actor who best suited the role. The role of General Li Wei suited him perfectly. I really liked it.
Our lead actor, Ryan Cheng, especially, played several characters at once, with a lot of movement and expression, and delivered a wonderful performance without a trace of his stagnant demeanor. Congratulations. I really liked it. Song Yi, though not as much as him, had the presence of mind of a general, but did the role suit her? No. She's tall and well-built, but she's very thin. I wish more robust and physically fit actors would play these female generals. For some reason, they always choose thin, unsteady actresses.
Bi Wen Jun was excellent in the role of the crown prince. I liked it. Shi Ce suited the role perfectly; he played it beautifully. Congratulations. Darren Chen was very sweet. His role was quite small, but he played it well. He suited her. Ji Xiao Bing was excellent as the evil prince. The villainous role suited her well. Wei Zi Xin was also very good as the sorceress. Her image was beautiful. It suited her. I liked it. Zhao Yuan Yuan was very good as the empress. She played a cruel, sneaky, scheming queen beautifully. Well done. Du Chun suited her as the emperor. Rain Lu, Liu Yu Hong, and Wu Yu Heng were the ones that caught my eye.

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Truly a masterpiece

I mean where do I start from acting , plot to CGI all were great .

not your typical enemies to lover , loved jinan but prince Annan has has own charisma wished they showed more of him , I guess jinan was prince Annan's true self but he didn't show it , understanble he is a general after all.

loved the supernatural element with the man in black , at the end when he went to wuling mountain to get jade linlong back and the fight scene with taijin forces after that was great.

hated the taijin's crown prince in most of the show 😤 , but after he saved li Shaung and lure aodeng to be with her , he is forgiven 😅

loved the ending, thought for a moment it was a sad one , glad it turned out this way but I missed qiao though wished they didn't kill he off 😢

the scene when she woke up and pretended to forget who she is and who he was I was like not this again 😂 I wanted them to remember each other and have a happy ending.

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JUST THE BEST!!!!

The acting, the expressions everything is a 10 out of 10 for me, loved the cast, the story the music everything. Cheng Lei and Song yi really brought the characters back to life. Honestly when the trailer first came out I couldn't understand anything, but nonetheless I was excited and I wasn't at any point disappointed when it dropped, drama that kept me wanting more with each episode. A huge fan of Cheng Lei too, the last drama I watched of him was MJTY, didn't see his cameo in FOF, unfortunately even his presence couldn't make me watch that show, maybe I'll give it another chance in the near future. And this is my first drama of Song Yi, didn't watch Destined so..., and I was impressed with her, she ate and left no crumbs, maybe I'll add Destined to my watchlist. Overall just the best, definitely watching it again very soon. And those people giving it a bad review, all I can say it, You need to improve your taste buds....... so many good drama's came out this year and safe to say this is my second favorite (first being when destiny brings the demon ofc), with only a 0.0000000000001% difference. Can't wai for Cheng Lei's upcoming dramas...

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A sweet romance with some twists & action.

The drama is sweet. Has action scenes, really well done. A man with 3 personalities often interlinking with each, all of them whipped for a female general. Has a little fantasy, an evil empress, a little obsessed side male lead, but very less misunderstandings. This drama was really satisfying to watch.
Cheng Lei really got great platform to show his acting capability and he aced it. I think this has to be his finest work, the acting range, sudden shift in emotions, action scenes, different personalities was all to the point.

Also is pretty in line with the novel with some additional twists, which doesn't make it problematic. Loved it.

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It's FANTASTIC!

==Breakdown==
Background plot - 35%
Romance - 50% (it's romance heavy and I would definitely call this a romance)
Misc comedy - 15%

Background plot - EXCELLENT
Romantic chemistry - EXCELLENT
Misc comedy - EXCELLENT
Production value - Pretty good

I recommend this drama for people who love: Love stories, complex characters, twists in the plot, supernatural / fantasy elements, he falls first and harder, enemies to lovers.

First, I feel *so sorry* for anyone who dropped this masterpiece early on. The first ten episodes are absolute fire; and then it slows down to a simmer, building and building, until episode 26 when everything is insanely awesome until the end. AND THE END!! One of the most satisfying endings I've ever seen.

Other reviews will likely go over the basic plot, but what I wish I'd known before going into this drama:
1) Don't look up spoilers. Go into it blind because there are so many AMAZING twists and turns. Just let yourself enjoy the story, the pay-off is MASSIVE.
2) You will become a massive Cheng Lei fan after watching this drama. Accept it. Embrace it.
3) You will have a huge drama-hangover when it's over and nothing will hold your interest for a long time. I can't seem to watch anything else because I keep wishing I could watch this one again for the first time. :-(

This show now lives in my top three CDramas of all time, which are (in no particular order):
'The First Frost,' 'One and Only,' and now 'Shadow Love'

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Lovers to enemies to lovers done well

God, the chemistry between the leads is so good. I loved seeing them interact with each other. The story is fun as well. There's a little bit of everything in here. I highly recommend watching this. If you are hesitant to start or put off by the whole 'turning into a child' thing in the first couple of episodes, don't be. It does not last long, and it's explained why that happens. Tbh, I don't really have any negatives. If I wanted to nitpick, I'm sure I could find things to point out, but I got what I wanted: a fun story about generals, their life, their love, their responsibilities, their hate, and most importantly, a satisfying ending.

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Shadow Love Made Me Fall for Cheng Lei All Over Again

I started watching Shadow Love mainly because of Cheng Lei and Song Yi, and honestly, it did not disappoint at all. Some people were leaving hate comments saying their chemistry wasn’t working, but to me it was totally there. The tension, the banter, the little emotional beats, they nailed it.

One of the biggest highlights for me was Cheng Lei’s acting upgrade. He didn’t just play one character, but three completely different ones: Xuan Yike, Jin’an, and Duan Aodeng. Each role felt distinct, and it really showed how much range he’s built as an actor. Among them, Jin’an stood out for being both intense and hilariously awkward 😅 sometimes I even felt embarrassed for him. His struggle with Yulinglong, especially the scenes where he’s tempted to drink Shuang’s blood, gave the drama so much edge.

Story-wise, Shadow Love feels like a breath of fresh air. I’ve seen plenty of Chinese dramas, but I honestly haven’t come across one like this before. The concept is unique, the pacing is engaging, and it balances action, humor, and romance in a way that makes it super bingeable.

That being said, my ultimate favorite character has to be Duan Aodeng, a.k.a. Annan Wang. Even though he only really shines from episode 30 onward, his presence is unforgettable. Out of all the characters Cheng Lei has ever played, this one tops my list, mysterious, impactful, and just impossible to ignore.

And about the ending, it’s a happy ending, and I absolutely loved it. It tied everything together while still leaving me with the urge to rewatch. In fact, I already know I’ll go back to episodes 31–35 because that’s where Duan Aodeng dominates the screen.

Overall, Shadow Love is definitely one of those dramas I’ll keep coming back to. Exciting plot, strong chemistry, and a performance that proves Cheng Lei is leveling up big time.

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One of my favorites

Ok, first of all- there’s eye candy everywhere! I am really enjoying that part. Ml is fantastic and I’m highly impressed with his ability to jump between his different roles. (Even more so when said jumping involves losing his shirt, but still.) Side characters are also very easy to watch. Fl is cute, intelligent and kind. It seems really difficult to find shows where the fl is so well balanced, but this show does it well. The actress is a little too delicate to convincingly portray a bad ass general, but at least she’s not hyperextending her arms every time she tries to pick up a sword. Overall, she does well. Chemistry with the ml is on point. 🔥
The side characters are great, they add a lot to the show. Love the 2nd in command and the female doctor. The newly introduced coachman and the strong woman look promising, as well. Again- lots of eye candy! But also entertaining and they add some fun to the story. It’s interesting to see that both kingdoms are being led by someone evil or incompetent. Probably an indication they’ll be replaced by our more beloved main characters.
I like that’s it’s a different story line instead of one that’s been done 10 times in the past couple of years. And I love the action scenes where he has his super powers. That’s not usually a draw for me on these shows, but I have been enthralled by them here. Both the actor and the special effects are amazing. The incredible music may play a big role in that. Did I mention the music? Absolutely phenomenal!
I’m hooked and hope it continues to play as well as it has started.

Update: I’ve finished it and I’m in awe. I won’t give anything away, but have tissues at the end - for laughter and pain. It took me on a rollercoaster ride through all of my emotions. The ending was so awesome! This is now included in my favorite series of all time. Love the way all of the guys grew into such lovable, protective and endearing men. I really don’t know why the rating isn’t higher. This was done so very well.

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exceeded expectations

Why I started this drama...
I started this show with low expectations. I wasn't a fan of the main leads, and the cover photo + intro sounded cheesy....
Also, I did not enjoy the life of the general's daughter that was playing slightly before with the same main actor and a story of a general woman.... LOGD seemed shallow....so I was skeptical about this one too!!! however, shadow love's story sounded a bit original and the comments here encouraged me to start!

-Characters:
strong & real FL characters are hard to portray in dramas, they are rare but I think this show hit the mark. Not only did they hit the mark for the general Shuang, but also for the ML Janan/ Annan who was brillantly portrayed too.

Also, this is a show that really puts the ML and FL on the spot with their acting, I am glad they were on a production team where their chemistry, lines, expressions, development... all lined perfectly for a great result. ML had a really challenging role as there is the infamous "memory loss" trope, but he did it flawlessly!! i think this show is among the ones that played amnesia best!! well done!

all characters were very wholesome, bold, raw , credible and well played! (even the villains! ) and for me it's often a winning formula.

-Storyline:
the story moved fast in the first episodes but then it slows A LOT. it's in this big lump that character development happens. so I can't complain!! this show did not skip on showing the scenes that matter, unlike other shows who only tell or skip the little elements that truly make a story "genuine" "believable" and help us connect with the storyline.

I loved the incorporation of magic that was not over the top. just enough. I loved that we weren't given the clues of how that magic works and that it doesn't make the center of the story as much as we'd expect iitially. Which is great because sometimes obsessing with the magic rules/problem often ruins a story and makes it too melodramatic.... so points for making a great balance on that! Also, it wasn't a story that was meant to be tooo complicated, just enough. it was mostly a love story, and the title is brutally honest.

this story doesn't feel rushed, but I did feel like most episodes were like an epilogue and the main story actually happens in the last 10 episodes.

-Production:
While some scenes have very minor execution discrepancies, the actual execution of the story, script, costumes, lighting, etc... was well done. it shows that the production team had fun making this drama. special kudos to the music ( while sometimes it was a bit much, i really enjoyed the electrifying beat that matched the character's energy!)

It's one of these stories where i will miss seeing these characters interact with each other in the most wholesome way. even for the most mundane things!

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Nice drma

“Shadow Love” is a drama that completely exceeded my expectations and left me deeply impressed in every way. From the very first episode, it draws you into its mysterious yet emotional storyline, balancing romance, suspense, and heartfelt character growth with remarkable finesse.

The **story** deserves a full **10/10**. It is beautifully written, with a perfect mix of tension and tenderness. The narrative keeps you guessing, yet it never loses its emotional depth. Each twist feels purposeful, and the way the relationships develop makes you invested in the characters’ journeys. It’s rare to find a drama that blends suspense and romance so seamlessly, but “Shadow Love” does it brilliantly.

The **acting** is also an easy **10/10**. Every performance is natural, powerful, and moving. The leads display undeniable chemistry, bringing out both the vulnerability and strength in their roles. Supporting characters also shine, adding richness to the world of the drama. What stands out most is how the actors portray subtle emotions—sometimes a glance or silence carries as much weight as words. It makes the entire viewing experience feel authentic and immersive.

In terms of **rewatch value**, this drama also earns a **10/10**. The layered storytelling and strong performances make it worth revisiting multiple times. Every rewatch reveals something new—whether it’s a hidden detail in the dialogue, foreshadowing of future events, or simply appreciating the cast’s chemistry once again.

Overall, “Shadow Love” is not just a drama; it’s an experience. With its perfect balance of story, acting, and emotional impact, it earns a flawless score. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a drama that stays with you long after it ends.

**Final Rating: 10/10**

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